Sprint shifts top management

“n”>Aug 3 Sprint Corp on Monday said Chief Financial Officer Joseph Euteneuer will be leaving the company, and named Tarek Robbiati to succeed him. Robbiati worked most recently as the managing director and CEO of FlexiGroup Ltd., an Australian consumer finance company specializing in leasing. In addition, he served as head of corporate finance for Orange PLC.

Marcelo Claure, president and chief executive officer of Sprint, feels “very good about the team” that they have assembled “to pursue the great opportunities ahead”, according to the press release.

Euteneuer was appointed Sprint’s CFO back in 2011 and oversaw the transition as Sprint was acquired by Softbank.

The company also said that Günther Ottendorfer, 46, is joining the company as chief operating officer, leading a newly created technology office. Before that, Ottendorfer was managing director, networks, at Singtel’s Australian arm Optus, and he also spent nine years at Deutsche Telekom, where he eventually took responsibility for the German incumbent’s mobile network planning across Europe.

The management moves come a day before Sprint is slated to report its quarterly results on Tuesday morning.

Finally, John Saw, who until now has served as chief network officer, has been promoted to chief technology officer, reporting to Ottendorfer.

Claure took over as CEO last year said he was looking to strengthen the leadership team at Sprint to help guide it from a distant competitor to Verizon to a company that means business.

“Tarek is one of the most dynamic and visionary strategic financial executives in the telecommunications and financial services industries”, said Claure. This will capitalize on Sprint’s rich spectrum portfolio, increasing coverage and capacity by significantly densifying the company’s network.

Lease plans, such as offered as part of Sprint’s new All-In Plan, tie up cash for company. Sprint has been facing tough competition from its rivals as the company is struggling to expand its wireless customer base.

Robbiati and Ottendorfer will relocate to Kansas City with their families.