U.S. telecommunications operator T-Mobile US (TMUS.US) announced that it will promote Chief Operating Officer Srini Gopalan to Chief Executive Officer effective November 1st, replacing Mike Sievert who has served in the role for nearly six years. In a statement released Monday, the telecom company said that 56-year-old Sievert will transition to a newly created Vice Chairman position, where he will continue to provide strategic advisory support to management. The 55-year-old Gopalan joined T-Mobile US in March this year, having previously served as CEO of the German operations under Deutsche Telekom, T-Mobile US's controlling shareholder. German media had reported as early as June about Sievert's potential departure. "When I initially invited Srini to serve as Chief Operating Officer, I recognized he possessed the skills, experience, and 'Un-carrier' mindset needed to lead the company's future," Sievert stated in the announcement. The company described this leadership transition as being "consistent with the comprehensive succession planning process established by the Board of Directors." Following the news, T-Mobile US shares declined less than 1% in New York pre-market trading.

Sievert himself had previously served as a key lieutenant to former CEO John Legere. During Legere's tenure, the company not only established its distinctive brand identity but also cultivated its disruptive "Un-carrier" positioning. Marketing initiatives introduced under Legere, such as unlimited data plans, have since become industry standards. Under Legere's leadership, T-Mobile US completed its acquisition of Sprint, cementing its position among the three major U.S. telecommunications companies. After taking over from Legere, Sievert further consolidated the company's position as the second-largest carrier in the United States by subscriber count and made it the first in the industry to offer direct satellite mobile services to customers.

The company disappointed investors in the first quarter of this year due to below-expected subscriber growth, but subsequent new service plan launches provided a turnaround. These initiatives included a five-year price guarantee program designed to attract budget-conscious customers, as well as satellite text and data services through a partnership with Starlink. Like other major telecommunications companies, T-Mobile US remains focused on deploying 5G wireless services and fiber internet access infrastructure. The company completed its acquisition of fiber provider Lumos in April and launched T-Fiber services in June. T-Mobile US views its fiber business as playing an extraordinary role in future expansion, a strategy that will be primarily driven by Gopalan.

In July, the company raised full-year guidance for its joint venture with KKR Group, enabling it to acquire fiber internet service provider Metronet, with expectations to add hundreds of thousands of new subscribers by year-end.