At a glance: Alcatel-Lucent's Patricia Russo

AGE: 56. Born in Trenton, N.J.

EDUCATION: Georgetown University, bachelor's degree in political science and history, 1973; Harvard University, Advanced Management Program, 1989.

TITLE: Chief executive, Alcatel-Lucent.

CAREER: Started out in sales and marketing at IBM Corp., 1973 to 1981. At AT&T Corp. from 1981 to 1996, eventually as president of the Business Communications Systems unit (now Avaya Inc.) Became vice president of corporate operations at Lucent, newly spun off from AT&T, in 1997, then chief executive of its service provider networks group, 1999 to 2000. President and chief operating officer of Eastman Kodak Co. from 2001 to early 2002. Returned to Lucent to become CEO, adding the chairman title in 2003. Became CEO of the combined company when Lucent was acquired by Alcatel in 2006.