Location Birmingham, Michigan, United States Regions Greater Detroit Area, Great Lakes, Midwestern US Gender Male
Charles Lee received his bachelor's degree in metallurgical engineering from Cornell University and a master's degree in business administration with distinction from the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration.
He served in various financial and management positions before becoming senior vice president of Finance for Penn
Central Corporation, and then Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc.
In 1983, Charles joined GTE Corporation (which merged with Bell Atlantic Corporation to form Verizon Communications, Inc. in 2000) as senior vice president of Finance, and in 1986 was named senior vice president of Finance and Planning.
He was elected president, chief operating officer and a director in December 1988 and was elected chairman of the board and chief executive officer of GTE in 1992. Charles served as chairman of the board and co-chief executive officer of Verizon Communications from June 2000 through March 2002 and served as non-executive chairman of the board from April 2002 to December 2003.
Charles serves on the boards of directors of United States Steel Corporation and DIRECTV. Charles is a member of the board of Overseers of Weill Cornell Medical College. He is also a trustee emeritus and presidential councilor of Cornell University.
