Thomas M. Rutledge

Thomas M. Rutledge serves as Director Emeritus and is the former chairman and CEO of Charter Communications, a leading broadband connectivity company with Internet, Mobile, TV and Voice services available to more than 57 million homes and businesses in 41 states through its Spectrum brand. Mr. Rutledge retired as CEO on Dec. 1, 2022, then served as Executive Chairman of the Company and its Board of Directors through November of 2023. He maintained oversight of Charter’s Government Affairs during that time and provided his guidance and expertise to ensure a smooth and successful transition.

Mr. Rutledge and his leadership team positioned Charter to be the connectivity provider of choice well into the future for both residential and business customers. Under his leadership, Charter completed mergers with Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks and Optimum West — more than tripling the size of the company. In addition, the company established an all-digital cable TV and streaming video platform, gigabit broadband connections and a competitive mobile offering across its service area of 55 million homes and businesses.

Prior to becoming CEO of Charter in 2012, Mr. Rutledge served as Chief Operating Officer of Cablevision Systems, where he oversaw the company's cable television business; Rainbow Media, the company's national programming business, which includes the AMC, IFC, Sundance TV and WEtv networks; Clearview Cinemas and Newsday. While at Cablevision, Mr. Rutledge oversaw a fiber-optic network upgrade, the first high-definition video on demand offering, the first cable footprint-wide rollout of VoIP phone service, the first WiFi mesh wireless cable network deployment, and greenlit the iconic television series Mad Men, Breaking Bad, and The Walking Dead.

In 1977, he joined American Television and Communications (ATC), a predecessor of Time Warner Cable, as a manager trainee where he served in a series of progressively larger leadership roles, eventually becoming President of Time Warner Cable in 2001.

Mr. Rutledge previously served as Chairman of both CableLabs and the NCTA Board – The Internet & Television Association Boards. He currently serves on the board of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. In 2011, he received the NCTA Vanguard Award for Distinguished Leadership, the cable industry’s highest honor, and is a member of the Cable Hall of Fame and the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame. 

He received a B.A. in economics from California University in California, Pa., in 1977.