John Zeglis

John Zeglis
Name	John Zeglis
Birth date	1947
Birth place	Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Alma mater	Northwestern UniversityNorthwestern University School of Law, University of Notre Dame
Occupation	Lawyer, executive, investor, philanthropist
Employer	AT&T, AT&T Corporation
Title	Former President and CEO, AT&T Inc. (1997–1999)

John Zeglis is an American attorney, corporate executive, investor, and philanthropist noted for leadership in telecommunications, legal strategy, and higher education governance. He served as president and chief executive officer of AT&T during a period of regulatory change and technological transition, and later held roles on corporate and nonprofit boards while engaging in private investment and civic initiatives. Zeglis's career spans legal practice, academic teaching, corporate management, and philanthropy connected to institutions such as DePaul University, University of Notre Dame, and cultural organizations in Chicago.

Early life and education

Zeglis was born in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in a family active in the Chicago civic and professional communities. He attended University of Notre Dame, where he completed undergraduate studies and developed ties to Notre Dame alumni networks and programs linked to South Bend, Indiana. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from Northwestern University School of Law (now Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law), where he participated in legal clinics and connections to Chicago law firms and regional bar associations such as the Chicago Bar Association. During his formative years he interacted with legal scholars and practitioners connected to institutions including Harvard Law School, Yale Law School, and the American Bar Association through conferences and symposia.

Legal and academic career

Zeglis began his legal career in private practice and then joined corporate legal departments, navigating antitrust, regulatory, and transactional matters that implicated agencies and statutes like the Federal Communications Commission, the United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division, and the Telecommunications Act of 1996. He served as outside counsel and in-house lawyer on complex mergers and litigations involving firms such as Bell Atlantic, NYNEX, and legacy regional carriers in the Bell System. Zeglis later held academic appointments and lectured at law schools and business schools, offering courses and seminars that drew connections to jurists and academics from Columbia Law School, Stanford Law School, Georgetown University Law Center, and practitioner communities in Washington, D.C.. His legal work intersected with prominent antitrust litigators and corporate counsel from companies like Microsoft, IBM, and Cisco Systems.

AT&T leadership and business career

Zeglis joined AT&T in legal and executive roles as the company restructured following divestiture and faced deregulation and competition from long-distance carriers and regional telephone companies such as MCI Communications and Sprint Corporation. Rising through corporate ranks, he became president and chief executive officer of AT&T Corporation in the late 1990s, overseeing strategic initiatives related to broadband, wireless partnerships, and enterprise services that involved competitors and collaborators including BellSouth, Verizon Communications, Cablevision, and technology suppliers like Lucent Technologies and Nokia. His tenure addressed regulatory proceedings before the Federal Communications Commission and negotiations with labor organizations and trade groups such as the Communications Workers of America and industry associations like the National Cable & Telecommunications Association. Zeglis steered corporate strategy amid industry consolidation and technology transitions involving Internet Protocol, wireless networks evolution, and the dot-com era dynamics affecting firms like AOL and Yahoo!.

Investment and board roles

After leaving executive management, Zeglis engaged in private investment, venture activities, and governance through board memberships at public and private organizations. He served on corporate boards and advisory panels that included companies and institutions such as Exelon Corporation, Northern Trust Corporation, Caterpillar Inc.-adjacent ventures, and regional financial and healthcare organizations connected to Illinois and the Midwest. His board work intersected with nonprofit governance at universities and cultural institutions, collaborating with trustees and executives from The Chicago Community Trust, Art Institute of Chicago, and higher education boards including Northwestern University and University of Notre Dame. Zeglis's investment interests encompassed technology startups, private equity partnerships, and philanthropic venture models linked to firms and investors like Sequoia Capital, Kleiner Perkins, and regional angel networks.

Philanthropy and civic involvement

Zeglis has been active in philanthropic and civic initiatives focusing on education, the arts, and community development. He contributed to fundraising campaigns and governance for institutions such as DePaul University, University of Notre Dame, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and cultural entities including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. His civic engagement included participation in economic development and policy forums alongside leaders from World Business Chicago, the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, and regional chambers of commerce. Zeglis supported scholarship programs, public policy institutes, and healthcare initiatives connected to hospitals and research centers in the Chicago metropolitan area.

Personal life and legacy

Zeglis's personal life reflects long-standing ties to Chicago and Notre Dame communities, with family and philanthropic activities centered on education, faith-based organizations, and civic culture. His professional legacy is noted for navigating legal and managerial challenges during a transformative era for telecommunications, influencing corporate governance and regional philanthropic priorities through board service and charitable giving. Colleagues and contemporaries include corporate and academic figures from AT&T Corporation, regulatory bodies like the FCC, and universities and nonprofits across the Midwest, contributing to discourse on corporate strategy, legal practice, and civic leadership.

Category:1947 births Category:American business executives Category:American lawyers Category:People from Chicago