T-Mobile USA CEO Robert Dotson announces his departure
By Laura June 
posted May 26th 2010 12:09PM
posted May 26th 2010 12:09PM
T-Mobile USA CEO Robert Dotson to Leave Company in May 2011; Philipp Humm Named as CEO Designate
DT CEO René Obermann: Respect for Dotson Decision;
DT Confirms Commitment to U.S. Business
BELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Robert Dotson, president and chief executive officer of T-Mobile USA, Inc., has informed Deutsche Telekom (DT) of his intent to transition to new opportunities in 2011 after 15 years of service with T-Mobile USA. In order to ensure a smooth transition of leadership, Dotson has committed to stay actively engaged in the business until May 2011. His designated successor is Philipp Humm, an experienced DT executive and former CEO of T-Mobile Deutschland. Humm is currently responsible for sales and service in Europe as chief regional officer (CRO) Europe. After a period of transition with Dotson, it's the intention that Humm will take over as CEO of T-Mobile USA in February 2011, while Dotson will remain on as a T-Mobile USA non-executive board member until May 2011.
"With Philipp, we have an excellent leader with an outstanding track record in the mobile industry"
"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. 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."
René Obermann, CEO of Deutsche Telekom, said, "I sincerely regret Robert's decision to leave, however I absolutely respect his decision, and am most grateful that he has offered to stay on for another year in order to work with Philipp to ensure continuity in running the business. Robert's pioneering leadership in establishing T-Mobile USA as one of the leading players in the U.S. mobile market has not only been recognized by us at Deutsche Telekom, but by the industry as a whole. An agile mind, business acumen, strong leadership, entrepreneurial spirit and team work – these are some of the many excellent qualities that have made Robert such an invaluable leader within the DT Group."
Coming to T-Mobile USA as president and CEO designate, effective July 1, 2010, Humm brings significant experience in the U.S. marketplace. Before joining Deutsche Telekom, Humm worked for ten years for a number of U.S.-based companies including McKinsey & Company, Procter & Gamble, and Amazon in senior level positions. Humm has since served as CEO of T-Mobile Deutschland from 2005 until 2008. He took over a company in a declining market and successfully turned it around during his tenure to become Germany's leading mobile operator in both subscribers as well as service revenues. He was also responsible for the successful market introduction of the iPhone® in Germany in 2007.
Humm, 50, has strong international experience, and in his present position as CRO Europe, he is responsible for international sales and customer service, as well as steering the five national mobile companies in Austria, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, the UK and Poland. In this role he has played a pivotal part in the recent, successful establishment of the joint venture in the United Kingdom between T-Mobile UK and Orange UK of France Telekom.
"With Philipp, we have an excellent leader with an outstanding track record in the mobile industry," Obermann added. "During his five years at Deutsche Telekom, Philipp has proven bold leadership and intense determination to succeed. His strong vision within the industry as well as his courage to transform, combined with his entrepreneurial qualities, ensures that he has all the credentials to lead T-Mobile USA as a strong competitor in a very dynamic market. I am more than confident that both Robert and Philipp will work closely together to create a smooth transition of leadership, as well as moving the business forward."
Humm said, "It is a privilege for me to take over the reins from an established leader such as Robert. I look forward to working with him and the T-Mobile USA team during the transition phase, and I relish the prospect of leading such a proud company as T-Mobile USA - a force to be reckoned with in one of the largest markets in the world. It is a great challenge, and I am grateful for having been given the chance to make a difference."
About T-Mobile USA, Inc.
Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile USA, Inc. is the U.S. wireless operation of Deutsche Telekom AG (NYSE:DT). By the end of the first quarter of 2010, approximately 150 million mobile customers were served by the mobile communication segments of the Deutsche Telekom group - 33.7 million by T-Mobile USA - all via a common technology platform based on GSM and UMTS, the world's most widely-used digital wireless standards. T-Mobile USA's innovative wireless products and services help empower people to connect to those who matter most. Multiple independent research studies continue to rank T-Mobile USA among the highest in numerous regions throughout the U.S. in wireless customer care and call quality. For more information, please visit http://www.T-Mobile.com. T-Mobile is a federally registered trademark of Deutsche Telekom AG. For further information on Deutsche Telekom, please visit www.telekom.de/investor-relations.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect the current views of Deutsche Telekom management with respect to future events. The words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "project" and "should" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on current plans, estimates, and projections, and therefore you should not place too much reliance on them. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond Deutsche Telekom's control, including, without limitation, those factors set forth in "Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" contained in Deutsche Telekom's annual report on Form 20-F filed on February 28, 2008. If these or other risks and uncertainties materialize, or if the assumptions underlying any of these statements prove incorrect, Deutsche Telekom's actual results may be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements. Deutsche Telekom does not intend or assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
DT CEO René Obermann: Respect for Dotson Decision;
DT Confirms Commitment to U.S. Business
BELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Robert Dotson, president and chief executive officer of T-Mobile USA, Inc., has informed Deutsche Telekom (DT) of his intent to transition to new opportunities in 2011 after 15 years of service with T-Mobile USA. In order to ensure a smooth transition of leadership, Dotson has committed to stay actively engaged in the business until May 2011. His designated successor is Philipp Humm, an experienced DT executive and former CEO of T-Mobile Deutschland. Humm is currently responsible for sales and service in Europe as chief regional officer (CRO) Europe. After a period of transition with Dotson, it's the intention that Humm will take over as CEO of T-Mobile USA in February 2011, while Dotson will remain on as a T-Mobile USA non-executive board member until May 2011.
"With Philipp, we have an excellent leader with an outstanding track record in the mobile industry"
"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. 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."
René Obermann, CEO of Deutsche Telekom, said, "I sincerely regret Robert's decision to leave, however I absolutely respect his decision, and am most grateful that he has offered to stay on for another year in order to work with Philipp to ensure continuity in running the business. Robert's pioneering leadership in establishing T-Mobile USA as one of the leading players in the U.S. mobile market has not only been recognized by us at Deutsche Telekom, but by the industry as a whole. An agile mind, business acumen, strong leadership, entrepreneurial spirit and team work – these are some of the many excellent qualities that have made Robert such an invaluable leader within the DT Group."
Coming to T-Mobile USA as president and CEO designate, effective July 1, 2010, Humm brings significant experience in the U.S. marketplace. Before joining Deutsche Telekom, Humm worked for ten years for a number of U.S.-based companies including McKinsey & Company, Procter & Gamble, and Amazon in senior level positions. Humm has since served as CEO of T-Mobile Deutschland from 2005 until 2008. He took over a company in a declining market and successfully turned it around during his tenure to become Germany's leading mobile operator in both subscribers as well as service revenues. He was also responsible for the successful market introduction of the iPhone® in Germany in 2007.
Humm, 50, has strong international experience, and in his present position as CRO Europe, he is responsible for international sales and customer service, as well as steering the five national mobile companies in Austria, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, the UK and Poland. In this role he has played a pivotal part in the recent, successful establishment of the joint venture in the United Kingdom between T-Mobile UK and Orange UK of France Telekom.
"With Philipp, we have an excellent leader with an outstanding track record in the mobile industry," Obermann added. "During his five years at Deutsche Telekom, Philipp has proven bold leadership and intense determination to succeed. His strong vision within the industry as well as his courage to transform, combined with his entrepreneurial qualities, ensures that he has all the credentials to lead T-Mobile USA as a strong competitor in a very dynamic market. I am more than confident that both Robert and Philipp will work closely together to create a smooth transition of leadership, as well as moving the business forward."
Humm said, "It is a privilege for me to take over the reins from an established leader such as Robert. I look forward to working with him and the T-Mobile USA team during the transition phase, and I relish the prospect of leading such a proud company as T-Mobile USA - a force to be reckoned with in one of the largest markets in the world. It is a great challenge, and I am grateful for having been given the chance to make a difference."
About T-Mobile USA, Inc.
Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile USA, Inc. is the U.S. wireless operation of Deutsche Telekom AG (NYSE:DT). By the end of the first quarter of 2010, approximately 150 million mobile customers were served by the mobile communication segments of the Deutsche Telekom group - 33.7 million by T-Mobile USA - all via a common technology platform based on GSM and UMTS, the world's most widely-used digital wireless standards. T-Mobile USA's innovative wireless products and services help empower people to connect to those who matter most. Multiple independent research studies continue to rank T-Mobile USA among the highest in numerous regions throughout the U.S. in wireless customer care and call quality. For more information, please visit http://www.T-Mobile.com. T-Mobile is a federally registered trademark of Deutsche Telekom AG. For further information on Deutsche Telekom, please visit www.telekom.de/investor-relations.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect the current views of Deutsche Telekom management with respect to future events. The words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "project" and "should" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on current plans, estimates, and projections, and therefore you should not place too much reliance on them. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond Deutsche Telekom's control, including, without limitation, those factors set forth in "Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" contained in Deutsche Telekom's annual report on Form 20-F filed on February 28, 2008. If these or other risks and uncertainties materialize, or if the assumptions underlying any of these statements prove incorrect, Deutsche Telekom's actual results may be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements. Deutsche Telekom does not intend or assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.
New CEO bring the Iphone plz !
@techlord
Why? iPhone isn't the huge it used to be. It's been trumped by other phones. You seem to have some, except Palm's kid.
@techlord or how about a decent android phone?
@pavlindrom
The iPhone would attract new customers and help current ones stay no matter what your personal opinion of it is.
@techlord could just use the HD2... i personally enjoy it more than i ever did my iPhone
Ever heard of the Nexus One?
@starkruzr
Nexus One needs a price drop, a keyboard included companion would be nice too.
@1 Infinite Loop Cupertino CA
I see your point. But still...
@squirrelnut1416
The T-Mo android device to have is at google.com/phone .. less than stellar plan options but it's still the only way to go on T-Mo unfortunately.
I only slightly had envy when had an Evo in my hand in my office, it quickly sated as I saw the craptastic signal from Sprint while my N1 had full 3G. Obviously this was only indicative of my office I wasn't able to carry it around with me.
He realized Teen Mobile sucked!!
@young hov 718
As CEO doesn't that mean he sucks?
@JamesR
Shhh... we don't say that out loud.
Oh Snap!
@One Love
Farewell, our beloved Bobby D. May the Magenta band of the rainbow shine down on you evermore. Evermore.
You should definitely show an image of their remodeled HQ with the animated LED facade... its awesome
@SteveyAyo http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/t-mobile-multimedia-facade-2/d5c7f3030a9ee986b196d5c7f3030a9ee986b196-97515996164
^video of it^
Argh. Its flash (I'm on my cell).
The more it goes the more I want an AT&T N1.
@SteveyAyo
This is not T-Mobile USA. This is T-Mobile headquarters in Bonn, Germany.
@SeeKo Right... which is the same building in the image above...
Hmm, Humm is the new CEO. How coincidental is that, that T-mobile gets the Hummingbird phone and Humm CEO, hmm.
The germans are taking over!
Sounds like an internal political fallout. T-Mobile isn't the greatest here in the US but I'd be hard pressed to say they're doing poorly.
Hopefully, now t-mobile can get their act together and start bringing out more high-end phone models to the market quicker.
They are in desperate need of lower frequency 3G.
@starkruzr
No, they're not. They just need to complete 3G coverage.
Hopefully the new guy will fight harder with HQ in Germany about more investment to further boost coverage.
@hyundaifanscom
Actually it's said that it's the other way around. Now T-Mobile USA will finally do what the headquarter wants. Apparently communication wasn't so good in the past.
Well, I used to use T-Mobile, but I got really sick of their Hot Pink/Fuchsia logo everywhere on the screen, sometimes on the phone itself. Seriously, it's just gay! That or the guy came up with that color for the logo is, can't be the work of a lesbian or a straight guy.
@Tony Montana
Ah, good ol' homophobes...
Dude, you sound so stupid right now. I'm a graphic designer for an advertising agency, that color is fine, it may not appeal to you, but it's definitely not "gay". They have good branding focused on a younger demographic. You switch cuz of bad reception, dropped calls, etc...not cuz you thought a logo was gay...that's the stupidest thing I've hard today...and I've heard a lot of stuff.
.
@Tony Montana wow really pulled out all the stops on that one, all gay guys like pink and lesbians are dudes? so pretty much youre asking for engadget to ban yoi right? because if so thats a pretty damn good way of doing it and i hope the hammer falls fast...
but what can you expect from someone who wants to be scarface...
@Tony Montana
In fact even Engadget thought the magenta color is so cool, stylish and techy that they used it for their own mobile site.
http://mobile.engadget.com/
Wow, I thought Datsun was out like 20 years ago. Their cars were cool back then, too.
T-Mobile admitted they hadn't done much in US when they announce that they were finally planning to take the US market seriously. Hopefully this move is step 1 in making T-Mobile more then a 2nd tier company. Unfortunately, I'm not hanging around and waiting the years it will take for them to turn this sinking ship around.
Hrm, maybeh ze Germans vill bring us some of zat international appeal for great devices.
Auf Wiedersehen!
This could mean one of two things, the outgoing CEO is being blamed for the decline in subscribers, or, Tmo is jockeying to have a buyer acquire them. Or could it be both?! Tmo does not have the leverage Sprint had when Gary Forsee was shown the door.
Maybe with this new CEO, things might turn around... They got the hspa out there already. Now wa they need to do is a lower frequency and more coverage then after that they should get more high end device and they will be strong. I strongly believe that they can beat sprint.
@Freddy2Fred, misleading people into thinking they will get theoretical speeds in the real-world was a bonehead move, on part of the outgoing CEO. At&t calling Tmo's bluff on the, "4G speeds", and now word of the current CEO stepping down a day later, hmmm... Coincidence?
This comment says a lot: "There aren't many other details available regarding the reason for his departure," You can guarantee come February, they will throw Robert Dotson under the bus.
@scorpeo
They didn't make the decision yesterday, they have been claiming 4G speed for a while now and AT&T's sour puss had nothing to do with anything.
@ASEVENSEE4, for the most part, it wasn't reported until yesterday, that is when most reports put out the info.
Shouldn't this be breaking?
@Johnny Rockets
Maybe if Catherine Zeta-Jones was stepping in....
he served his company well but his time has come. he lacks the vision to guide this company to the next step. He's so conservative that a few years ago his managers that T-Mobile wasnt in the data business and that 3G was going to be used to offload voice traffic. How incredibly WRONG and off the mark he was, then the company played catchup for the next few years.
The king is dead bring on the new guy...although I dont know if bringing in zee germanz would be cause for alarm for the executive level management
@pinarello:
>zee germanz
Snatch. is an incredible movie.
Dear Engadget,
You misspelled Philipp Humm's name in the article.
Regards,
Grammar Nazi
T-Mob desperately needs a better expansion strategy stat. I know they were behind in this regard but they could have made moves for better Android devices and the iPhone more aggressively. They also need to decide what they're going to do with LTE quick. What spectrum are they going to deploy it on? It sounds like their future is murky in that regard.