Our Team

Howard Woolley

Howard serves as the Lead Director, Chair of the Compensation Committee and as a member of the Executive Committee and Nominating and Governance Committee of Somos.

Howard is currently President & CEO of Howard Woolley Group LLC, a strategic business and public policy advisory firm serving the telecommunications and technology sectors.

Howard served as Senior Vice President for wireless public policy for Verizon Wireless.

In that position, he was the public policy advisor to every CEO of Verizon Wireless from its founding in 2000 until Howard’s retirement from the company. He is a recognized leader in telecommunications policy and government affairs. His career and expertise have been featured in The National Journal and The Hill.

In 2026, Howard became a member of The Wall Street Journal Board of Directors Council which brings together leaders from the world’s most influential companies. He is a sought-after speaker on corporate governance matters and has been a panelist for the Financial Times Outstanding Directors Exchange (ODX) and Ernst & Young Board Matters. In addition to the Somos Board of Directors, Howard also serves on the boards of Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America and Apple Hospitality REIT (NYSE: APLE).   

Howard’s nonprofit board service includes Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins Medicine, and Syracuse University, including the Advisory Board for the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.

Howard holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and a Master of Administrative Sciences degree from Johns Hopkins University, where he is engaged in sickle cell anemia philanthropy and serves as a guest lecturer at its business school.