T-Mobile's New CEO to Lead Challenger Strategy

T-Mobile US Inc. is getting a fresh new leader with the appointment of former Global Crossing (Nasdaq: GLBC) CEO John Legere as Chief Executive Officer, charged with transforming the company into a successful challenger to the big three.

T-Mobile parent company, Deutsche Telekom AG (NYSE: DT), announced the appointment Wednesday morning, noting that the position goes into effect on Sept. 22. Legere is taking over for interim CEO Jim Alling, who will resume his post as COO of the wireless operator. Alling took over the slot in June when former CEO Philip Humm abruptly resigned. (See T-Mobile CEO Humm Is Done .)

René Obermann, CEO of Deutsche Telekom, introduced Legere in a short video in which Legere jumped right into how he'd execute T-Mobile's challenger strategy. Around the 1:45 mark, Legere discussed the carrier's network modernization plans, including its Long Term Evolution (LTE) buildout. He also delves into T-Mobile's unlocked iPhone strategy and its plans to build up its wholesale business.



Why this matters
Ten months after AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T)'s takeover attempt failed to get approval, T-Mobile still has a ways to go to regain its footing in the U.S. market. Legere will have his work cut out for him in speeding up the company's LTE deployment, building up a wholesale business, convincing consumers to bring over their unlocked iPhones and competing -- primarily with Sprint Corp. (NYSE: S) -- for those customers who still want an unlimited data plan.

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— Sarah Reedy, Senior Reporter, Light Reading Mobile