OVERLAND PARK, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May. 11, 2009-- Sprint Nextel (NYSE:S) has named Robert H. (Bob) Johnson president of its CDMA business unit. Johnson, a senior marketing, sales and customer service executive formerly with AT&T Wireless, will join the company on Wednesday, May 20.
"Bob is the perfect leader for Sprint's largest business unit," said Sprint Chief Executive Officer Dan Hesse. "He is a seasoned wireless veteran and I have seen how effective Bob can be in leading marketing, sales, retail and customer service operations. Bob is a great leader of people and a true team player. I am confident he will make a big impact here."
Sprint's CDMA business unit encompasses Sprint's postpaid consumer marketing and sales, including acquisition, growth and base marketing programs, as well as the more than 11,000 retail sales touchpoints. Another Sprint executive with a similar name, Robert L. (Bob) Johnson, currently serves as Chief Service Officer.
"I am excited about joining the Sprint team," noted Johnson. "I look forward to helping the talented group of people, already in place, continue to build on the momentum that is underway at the company."
Keith Cowan, currently interim president of Sprint's CDMA business unit, will continue as president, Strategy and Corporate Development, leading Sprint's overall strategic planning.
Hesse added, "I cannot thank Keith enough for stepping in over the last six months and leading both the CDMA business along with our strategy and development team."
Johnson, 55, brings marketing, sales and customer knowledge and expertise to Sprint. He co-founded and most recently served as chief operating officer of Sotto Wireless in Seattle, Wash. Previously Johnson served 16 years as a key executive at AT&T Wireless including serving as executive vice president of the company's marketing, sales and customer service functions. During his tenure at AT&T Wireless, Johnson managed the company's field operations, direct, indirect and retail sales, marketing and advertising, and customer service and retention. Johnson has spent his entire career in the communications industry; prior to joining AT&T, Johnson worked with communications companies including McCaw Cellular, Daniels and Associates, and PageAmerica, Inc.
Johnson earned both a Master of Science in Business Administration and his undergraduate degree from Indiana University. He will be based at the company's headquarters in Overland Park, Kan.
About Sprint Nextel
Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including two wireless networks serving more than 49 million customers at the end of the first quarter of 2009; industry-leading mobile data services; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. For more information, visit www.sprint.com [1].
Source: Sprint Nextel
Sprint Nextel
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