EarthLink President and Chief Executive Charles "Garry" Betty died Tuesday because of complications of cancer, the company said Wednesday.

Betty, who was 49, took a leave of absence in November after being diagnosed with "a serious form of cancer." He joined the company in 1996. Mike Lunsford, who was vice president of EarthLink's voice and access group, will continue as interim CEO.

"He was a pillar of stability for his many friends and thousands of EarthLink employees," EarthLink founder and Helio Chief Executive Sky Dayton wrote in a tribute posted to a Betty memorial site Wednesday. "I was the guy that built the plane, and he was the pilot, each of us complementing one another’s particular skill," Dayton said.

Continues here