T-Mobile USA appoints Global Crossing man as CEO

The US arm of Deutsche Telekom, T-Mobile USA, has appointed John Legere as CEO. Legere, a 32-year veteran of the US and global telecommunications and technology industries, succeeds Jim Alling, who has served as interim CEO since June. Alling will now return to his position as the firm’s COO.

Legere is the former CEO of networking services provider Global Crossing, and under his leadership, the company completed what it claims is the world’s first integrated global IP-based network.

He will now be tasked with overseeing the operator’s LTE deployment while the firm undergoes a restructure that sees 2,800 jobs axed.

The operator has recently been given a swathe of AWS spectrum and $3bn cash as a result of the failed takeover by rival AT&T. T-Mobile USA has since signed agreements with Ericsson and Nokia Siemens Networks to support its $4bn network modernisation project.

Most recently, in August 2012, the operator announced the return of an unlimited HSPA+ data plan for its customers after killing off a similar service 12 months previously.