Crosstown Fiber continues to sharpen its strategic edge, announcing the appointment of industry veteran Eric Nickla as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO). With over three decades of leadership experience in fiber, data centers, and telecommunications, Nickla joins Crosstown Fiber’s executive team to drive the company’s next phase of growth and market expansion.
As the demand for scalable, low-latency connectivity continues to surge, especially across emerging technologies like AI, machine learning (ML), and IoT, Crosstown Fiber remains committed to delivering purpose-built, underground fiber networks that meet the evolving needs of enterprises and critical infrastructure providers throughout Chicagoland. Nickla’s appointment highlights that commitment.
A Proven Leader in Fiber and Data Center Growth
Nickla brings a distinguished track record of scaling sales organizations, forging strategic partnerships, and delivering customer value. Prior to Crosstown Fiber, he served as Vice President of National Sales at Crown Castle’s Fiber Division, where he led revenue growth across Carrier, Hyperscale, and Data Center segments. His experience extends to key leadership roles at major industry players, including Level 3 Communications, AboveNet and Equinix, where he led the West Region Financial Vertical within the data center sector.
With such a deep understanding of fiber, interconnection, and edge infrastructure, Nickla is uniquely equipped to lead Crosstown Fiber’s revenue strategy and go-to-market execution. His vision aligns closely with Crosstown’s mission to provide high-performance connectivity solutions tailored for performance-intensive applications.
“Eric’s experience across the fiber and data center landscape makes him uniquely qualified to guide our next phase of growth,” said Mike Underdown, CEO of Crosstown Fiber. “He brings a clear vision for building customer relationships, expanding our presence in key verticals, and scaling our team in alignment with demand.”
Driving Strategic Expansion in a Dynamic Market
As CRO, Nickla will focus on accelerating Crosstown Fiber’s strategic initiatives, from expanding enterprise sales to building new partnerships across critical verticals. His leadership will help solidify Crosstown’s position as a trusted fiber infrastructure provider, delivering underground, high-capacity networks that support the demands of modern digital ecosystems.
“Crosstown Fiber’s approach to purpose-built, underground networks aligns perfectly with what the market needs right now,” Nickla shared. “The demand for scalable, low-latency connectivity is only accelerating, and Crosstown’s high-performance network is uniquely positioned to meet it. I look forward to working with Mike and the team to grow the business and continue delivering value to customers.”
Meeting Tomorrow’s Connectivity Demands Today
Crosstown Fiber’s network is engineered for the future, providing the robust, secure fiber infrastructure required to support a wide range of applications—from AI and ML to hyperscale deployments, municipal networks, and beyond. With Nickla’s leadership, the company is poised to scale its reach, enhance customer engagement, and continue meeting the connectivity needs of a rapidly evolving market.
For more information on Crosstown Fiber’s network solutions, visit www.crosstownfiber.com.
