Embarq’s Hesse Named New Sprint CEO

Sprint Nextel has found a new leader in Dan Hesse, who's been CEO of Sprint spin-off Embarq for the last year and a half.

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.”

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.