Embarq’s Hesse Named New Sprint CEO

By Geoff Duncan Published December 18, 2007

Embarq

U.S. telecommunications operator Sprint has found itself a new chief executive in Dan Hesse, CEO of Sprint spin-off Embarq. The move comes a little over a month after Sprint parted company with CEO Gary Gorsee, following several quarters of dropping subscriber figures, operational issues, and a series of risky moves towards building out a nationwide WiMax wireless network dubbed “Xohm.”

“Dan Hesse is the right person to lead our company,” said Sprint board member Irvine O. Hockaday, Jr., in a statement. “He is a proven leader with deep wireless experience as a chief executive and an established track record of generating strong operating performance. He has the board’s full support to take decisive actions necessary to improve our performance.”

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Hesse takes over the CEO position at Sprint effective immediately, Embarq has named Tom Gerke as interim CEO; Hesse’s departure from Embarq also garnered Embarq an arrangement that will be “financially and strategically beneficial” to shareholders, although no terms were disclosed.

Hesse served as president and CEO and AT&T Wireless Sevices from 1997 to 2000; at the time, AT&T was the nation’s largest wireless operator. He has served as the CEO of “common-sense” communications company Embarq since Sprint spun it off a year and a half ago.

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