Sprint picks former Embarq head as CEO
updated 08:55 am EST, Tue December 18, 2007
Sprint Picks New CEO
Sprint today ended its months-long search for a chief executive by announcing that it has chosen Dan Hesse as the carrier's president and CEO. The senior staffer has recently been the head of Embarq, an Internet and phone service provider spun off from Sprint in 2006. He previously headed AT&T Wireless before its rebranding as Cingular and is widely credited with spurring the company's growth during that time. This skill will be needed as Sprint hopes to turn around its losses and move up from its third-place standing among US telecom companies, according to Sprint.
The move will likely have a significant effect on Sprint's recently-launched Xohm WiMAX service. The 4G-level, wide-area Internet service had previously been championed by former chief executive Gary Forsee, who was forcibly ousted from his position after dissatisfaction with the company's continued losses. Rumors have surfaced that the managerial shakeup would have Sprint spin off Xohm similar to what it did for Embarq, though it is unclear whether Hesse has either resisted or supported the concept himself.
