MCLEAN, VA--(Marketwire - Jun 19, 2012) - PTGI Primus Telecommunications Group, Incorporated (NYSE: [ PTGI ]), a global facilities-based integrated provider of advanced telecommunications products and services, announced today that Chairman, President & CEO Peter Aquino was presented with a Gold Stevie® Award in the "Maverick of the Year" category in The 10^th Annual American Business Awards last night in New York City.

The "Maverick of the Year" category recognizes the individual who's effected the most positive change on his or her company and/or industry since the beginning of 2011. Thanks to Aquino's leadership, PTGi is now positioned as a financially-sound, well-managed business whose management team is focused on growth products and services in the telecom and data space where it has a sustainable advantage.

In 2011 he successfully divested under-performing non-core business units; transformed the balance sheet by taking advantage of the window to reduce very high-interest loans; and moved with lightning speed to list on the NYSE to attract more long-term investors. PTGi's 2011 net revenue was $989.3 million, an increase of 34%, helped by the strategic Arbinet acquisition and growth in higher-margin services.

After accepting his award, Aquino said, "When I look at what we've been able to accomplish last year, I recognize what an outstanding team effort this has been. Our distinguished board of directors, a senior executive team that is at the top of its game, and our dedicated managers and employees who work tirelessly every day are all key to this achievement."

The American Business Awards are the nation's premier business awards program. All organizations operating in the U.S.A. are eligible to submit nominations -- public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small.

Nicknamed the Stevies for the Greek word for "crowned," the trophies were presented to honorees during a gala banquet on Monday, June 18 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York. More than 500 nominees and their guests attended. The presentations were broadcast live by the Business TalkRadio Network.

More than 3,000 nominations from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry were submitted this year for consideration in a wide range of categories, including Most Innovative Company of the Year, Management Team of the Year, Best New Product or Service of the Year, Corporate Social Responsibility Program of the Year, and Executive of the Year, among others.

Stevie Award winners were selected by more than 270 executives nationwide who participated in the judging process this year.

About PTGi
PTGi (Primus Telecommunications Group, Incorporated) is a leading provider of advanced communication solutions, including, traditional and IP voice, data, mobile services, broadband Internet, collocation, hosting, and outsourced managed services to business and residential customers in the United States and Canada. PTGi is also one of the leading international wholesale service providers to fixed and mobile network operators worldwide. PTGi owns and operates its own global network of next-generation IP soft switches, media gateways, hosted IP/SIP platforms, broadband infrastructure, fiber capacity, and data centers located in Canada and Australia. Founded in 1994, PTGi is headquartered in McLean, Virginia.

About the Stevie Awards
Stevie Awards are conferred in four programs: The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at [ www.stevieawards.com ].