Telecom Pro Lands at Blackstone.

Thomas Middleton, a veteran telecommunications banker, joined the Blackstone Group in July as a Senior Managing Director in the firm's m&a group.

He worked at Merrill Lynch from 1994 to 2002. He was head of the firm's global communication group and, eventually, became Vice Chairman of investment banking.

More recently, working as a consultant, he advised Qwest Communications on its asset disposal program, assisting in the company's 2002 sale of its directory services unit, QwestDex. The unit was sold for $2.75 billion to an entity owned by two private equity firms - Carlyle Group and Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe.

Middleton says he was attracted by Blackstone's ability to bring an independent perspective to its clients. He adds that the firm can supply advice to senior management that will address the concerns of shareholders, debt holders, and other parties in a sale or restructuring.

Looking back on his nearly 20 years of investment …