Years in Cable: 40
Education: California University in California, PA
The past year has been one of the newsiest of Rutledge’s career, and that’s saying a lot given his accomplishments. Charter last May closed a deal to acquire Time Warner Cable and Bright House, becoming the No. 2 cable operator in the US. Rutledge saw his compensation skyrocket to $98.5 million in 2016, up from $16.4 million in 2015, according to an SEC filing, the most of any U.S.-based CEO. Stamford, CT-based Charter now serves 25 million households in 41 states and Rutledge is eyeing more growth by rolling out 5G and other technology, sensing more opportunity given the regulatory climate in the President Trump era. “Having a more stable regulatory environment can’t be anything but good,” he said at February’s Deutsche Bank Media & Telecom Conference. In March, he met with Trump and announced a $25 million investment in broadband infrastructure and technology over the next four years. Additionally, the MSO is moving all of the former TWC call centers from offshore to the US.
