ADA, Okla. – East Central University (ECU) announces the appointment of former COO of Microsoft and current Zayo Group chairman, Kevin Turner, as campaign co-chair for the ECU Forward capital campaign.

ECU Forward is a comprehensive $36.3 million capital campaign dedicated to advancing ECU’s future. This initiative will enhance the ECU campus, strengthen academic programs and ensure that ECU students will continue to be provided with life-changing educational opportunities at an affordable cost.

Speaking during the ECU Forward Capital Campaign Kick-Off, Turner said, “I’m excited about this ECU Forward capital campaign because it enables growth and longevity and vibrance for this community and for this college and this university and this special place; because my love for ECU runs very deep and I look forward to participating in the ECU Forward campaign and I hope all of you do as well.”

Turner received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management from ECU in 1987. While still a student, he was hired as a cashier for Walmart in 1985, the first of many positions he would hold with the company during his time at ECU and after. By the age of 29, Turner became the youngest corporate officer at the company. 

He would go on to assume the role of level Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer for Walmart Stores Inc. Subsequently, he was appointed CEO and President of Sam’s Club and Executive Vice President of Walmart Stores Inc. in 2002.

In 2005, Turner announced his move to Microsoft. Over the next 11 years he served as COO of Microsoft, where he oversaw an operation of more than 51,000 employees across more than 190 countries. He helped increase the company’s yearly revenue from $37 billion to over $91 billion during his tenure and saw customer satisfaction improve to an all-time high for the company. He was also instrumental in Microsoft’s transition to the cloud.

Since his exit from Microsoft in 2016, Turner has served a number of roles in significant organizations including time as Vice Chairman of Citadel and CEO of Citadel Securities, a member of the Board of Directors for Nordstrom, a position he held from 2010 to 2020, and President and CEO of Core Scientific, a leading blockchain and AI infrastructure company.

He currently holds the position of Independent Board Member at Albertsons Companies and is Chairman of Zayo Group, a company that provides communications infrastructure services, including fiber and bandwidth connectivity, colocation and cloud infrastructure.

“Any success I have had is due to the quality instruction that I received at East Central University that prepared me for graduate school and the workforce,” Turner added. “I am deeply indebted to ECU for preparing me for life as a businessman, professional and an individual."

-ECU-