A day after Microsoft shook up its entertainment group, T-Mobile USA has announced a shake-up of it own — at the CEO level. After 15 years with T-Mobile, Robert Dotson, president and CEO of the fourth-largest wireless carrier in the U.S., plans to pass the torch to a new leader.
Dotson is staying on until March 2011 and will remain actively engaged in the daily operations as he transitions the business to successor Philipp Humm. Humm is an experienced executive at Deutsche Telekom, the parent company of T-Mobile USA. In fact, Humm is the former CEO of T-Mobile Deutschland. He currently serves as a chief regional officer for Europe. He’ll officially take over in February 2011.
Dotson’s Goodbye
“For 15 years it has been a privilege to lead the talented T-Mobile USA team in its journey to become a leading U.S. wireless provider. The time is right to ensure a thoughtful leadership transition to position T-Mobile USA for the next 15 years of opportunity,” Dotson said.
“It has long been my intent to step away from the business at this stage in my life in order to devote more time to family and to take on entirely new and unique challenges,” he added. “That change can only be made possible if a suitable successor is in place. Over the next year, it will be my relentless focus and responsibility to work closely with Philipp to ensure marketplace success, and to enable a seamless leadership transition.”
Rene Obermann, CEO of Deutsche Telekom, said he regrets, but respects, Dotson’s decision to leave T-Mobile. Obermann also expressed his gratitude for Dotson’s willingness to stay on another year and work with Humm. Humm called the new position “a great challenge” that he’s grateful for.
T-Mobile’s Handicap
Although some may look at a 2.2 percent slip in sales in…