WorldCom to adopt MCI name

Back to the Future

By Ashlee Vance in San Francisco • Get more from this author

Posted in Business, 11th April 2003 22:07 GMT

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WorldCom will rebrand itself as MCI possibly as early as next week in an attempt to move away from its tainted past.

The carrier will announce the name change as part of reorganization plan that WorldCom will submit to a bankruptcy court. The WorldCom name is tied to a multi-billion dollar accounting scandal and a reckless past.

MCI was one of the giants swallowed by the little, minnow WorldCom, as it went on an acquisition spree. The company has a rich history dating back to early days providing two-radio communications for truckers. It is, of course, best known for battling AT&T and after six years under WorldCom's charge will be a big name brand again.

Parts of the group maintained the MCI moniker, and those parts were earning themselves a less than stellar reputation when the accounting scandal broke.

Michael Capellas continues to make the big decisions required of his massive salary. He was handsomely rewarded as he offloaded Compaq's most valuable assets, and then offloaded the company itself, was paid millions more to exit HP early, and then millions more to join WorldCom, er, MCI.

A trail of destruction which we estimate leaves him $32 million richer. ®