Mike Sievert

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Mike Sievert
Sievert in 2021
Mike Sievert
Born1969
BirthplaceCanton, Ohio, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationBusiness executive
TitleVice Chairman of T-Mobile US (from November 1, 2025); formerly CEO (2020–2025)
EmployerT-Mobile US
Known forPresident and CEO of T-Mobile US (2020–2025), overseeing the T-Mobile–Sprint merger integration
EducationUniversity of Pennsylvania (BA)

Michael Sievert (born 1969) is an American business executive who served as the chief executive officer (CEO) of T-Mobile US from April 1, 2020, to October 31, 2025.[1] A native of Canton, Ohio, Sievert rose through the ranks of the American telecommunications industry after earlier careers in technology and marketing. He joined T-Mobile in 2012 as chief marketing officer (CMO),[2] was promoted to chief operating officer (COO) in 2015,[3] and then to president in 2018.[4] In November 2019, T-Mobile announced that Sievert would succeed John Legere as CEO in May 2020, though the transition ultimately occurred a month ahead of schedule on April 1, 2020—the same day T-Mobile completed its merger with Sprint Corporation.[5][6] During his five-year tenure as CEO, Sievert oversaw the integration of Sprint into T-Mobile's operations and the company's continued expansion as one of the three major wireless carriers in the United States. On September 22, 2025, T-Mobile announced that Sievert would step down as CEO effective November 1, 2025, with COO Srini Gopalan succeeding him, while Sievert transitioned to the role of vice chairman.[7]

Early Life

Michael Sievert was born in 1969 in Canton, Ohio.[8] He grew up in the Canton area, which would later recognize him as a notable native son following his appointment as CEO of T-Mobile. Details about his family background and childhood have remained largely private, though his roots in the industrial city of northeastern Ohio were noted by local media when his ascension to the T-Mobile chief executive role was announced in late 2019.[8]

Education

Sievert attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a bachelor's degree.[8] The University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy League institution in Philadelphia, provided Sievert with the academic foundation that preceded his career across the technology and telecommunications sectors.

Career

Early Career in Technology

Before joining T-Mobile, Sievert built a career that spanned multiple technology companies and roles. His professional background included experience in both marketing and technology operations. He held a position at AT&T before moving to Microsoft, where he was hired to manage aspects of the Windows business.[9] His time at Microsoft coincided with a period of significant product development at the company, including work related to the Longhorn project (which would eventually become Windows Vista).[10]

Sievert was also involved in the startup ecosystem. He had a connection to a startup that was acquired by Lenovo.[11] This diverse set of experiences across large technology corporations, telecommunications firms, and entrepreneurial ventures gave Sievert a broad perspective on the technology industry before he entered the wireless carrier space.

His professional path has been characterized as that of a "tech and marketing veteran," a description used by industry publications when he was first appointed to a senior role at T-Mobile.[2] The combination of marketing acumen and technology operations experience would prove central to his contributions at T-Mobile during a period of significant transformation for the carrier.

T-Mobile: Chief Marketing Officer (2012–2015)

Sievert joined T-Mobile US in 2012 as the company's chief marketing officer.[2] His arrival at T-Mobile came during a pivotal period for the carrier. Under CEO John Legere, who also joined the company in 2012, T-Mobile was embarking on an aggressive strategy to reposition itself against larger competitors AT&T and Verizon. The company launched its "Un-carrier" strategy, a series of consumer-friendly initiatives designed to challenge industry conventions such as two-year service contracts, data overage charges, and other practices that had long been sources of customer frustration.

As CMO, Sievert played a role in shaping T-Mobile's marketing approach during the early phases of the Un-carrier strategy. The company's marketing during this period was notable for its confrontational tone toward competitors and its emphasis on consumer value. Ad Age later profiled Sievert's trajectory from CMO to CEO, noting his contributions to the company's marketing transformation.[12] The publication highlighted how the marketing function at T-Mobile during Sievert's tenure as CMO was integral to the company's broader corporate strategy, rather than being a support function subordinate to other divisions.

T-Mobile: Chief Operating Officer (2015–2018)

In February 2015, T-Mobile promoted Sievert from CMO to chief operating officer, a move that expanded his responsibilities beyond marketing to encompass broader operational oversight of the company.[3][13] As part of the same organizational restructuring, Andrew Sherrard was promoted to succeed Sievert as CMO.[13]

The promotion to COO positioned Sievert as one of the most senior executives at T-Mobile, directly below CEO John Legere in the corporate hierarchy. In this role, Sievert was responsible for overseeing the company's day-to-day operations during a period of sustained subscriber growth. T-Mobile during this period continued to add customers at a pace that outstripped its larger rivals, driven by the continuing rollout of Un-carrier initiatives and network expansion efforts.

T-Mobile: President (2018–2020)

In July 2018, T-Mobile further elevated Sievert's position by promoting him to president of the company.[4][14] This promotion occurred during the process of T-Mobile's proposed acquisition of Sprint Corporation, a merger that had been announced in April 2018 and was undergoing regulatory review. As president, Sievert took on an even larger role in the company's strategic direction while the merger awaited approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Department of Justice.

The president title formalized Sievert's status as Legere's second-in-command and positioned him as the natural internal candidate to eventually succeed Legere as CEO. During this period, Sievert was involved in the company's efforts to secure regulatory approval for the Sprint merger, which faced scrutiny from federal regulators and opposition from a coalition of state attorneys general who filed a lawsuit to block the deal.

CEO Appointment and the Sprint Merger (2019–2020)

On November 18, 2019, T-Mobile announced that John Legere would step down as CEO in May 2020, with Sievert succeeding him in the top role.[5][15][16][17] The announcement was also reported by the New York Post, which confirmed Legere's planned departure.[18]

The transition ultimately occurred ahead of schedule. On April 1, 2020, Sievert officially became CEO of T-Mobile, one month earlier than originally planned. The acceleration of the CEO transition coincided with a landmark event: the closing of T-Mobile's merger with Sprint Corporation on the same day.[6] The New York Times reported on the closing of the merger, which created a combined company with a significantly larger customer base and spectrum portfolio. The merger, valued at approximately $26 billion, had been one of the most closely watched and contested deals in the telecommunications industry.

Sievert thus assumed the CEO role at an extraordinary moment—simultaneously taking the helm of a newly merged company during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. The dual challenge of integrating two major wireless carriers while navigating the economic disruption caused by the pandemic defined the early months of his tenure.

Tenure as CEO (2020–2025)

Sievert's tenure as CEO lasted more than five years, during which he oversaw the integration of Sprint's network, customers, and workforce into T-Mobile's operations. The Sprint merger integration was a complex undertaking that involved combining two separate wireless networks, migrating millions of Sprint customers to T-Mobile's systems, and consolidating corporate operations.

In June 2020, during a period of national attention to issues of racial justice following the killing of George Floyd, Sievert publicly committed T-Mobile to making changes to increase diversity within the company.[19] The commitment was part of a broader wave of corporate responses to the social justice movement that swept the United States in 2020.

During Sievert's time as CEO, T-Mobile also navigated the broader telecommunications industry's transition to 5G wireless technology. The spectrum assets acquired through the Sprint merger, particularly Sprint's holdings in the mid-band spectrum range, became central to T-Mobile's 5G deployment strategy. The company positioned itself as a leader in 5G network coverage, leveraging the combined spectrum portfolio of the merged entity.

T-Mobile under Sievert's leadership also expanded beyond its traditional wireless carrier business. The company pursued initiatives in areas such as home internet service, using its wireless network to provide broadband connectivity to households, particularly in underserved and rural areas.

Sievert's leadership style represented a shift from the flamboyant public persona of his predecessor, John Legere, who had been known for his unconventional behavior and social media presence. While Sievert maintained the Un-carrier branding and competitive positioning that had defined T-Mobile's strategy under Legere, his public demeanor was generally described as more measured and corporate in nature.

Departure from CEO Role (2025)

In June 2025, reports emerged from the German newspaper Handelsblatt suggesting that Sievert might step down as T-Mobile CEO before the end of his contract.[20] These reports were confirmed on September 22, 2025, when T-Mobile officially announced that Sievert would step down as CEO effective November 1, 2025.[7][1]

The company named Srini Gopalan, T-Mobile's chief operating officer, as Sievert's successor.[21] T-Mobile's press release described Gopalan as "uniquely positioned to lead T-Mobile's next era of growth and digital-first transformation."[7] Sievert transitioned to the role of vice chairman of T-Mobile, maintaining a connection to the company following his departure from the CEO position.[22] CNET's headline playfully described Sievert as becoming the "Un-CEO," a reference to T-Mobile's longstanding Un-carrier branding.[22]

Multiple outlets covered the transition, noting that Sievert's five-year tenure had encompassed the completion of the Sprint merger integration and a period of significant growth for the company.[23][24][25]

Personal Life

Sievert is a native of Canton, Ohio.[8] He has maintained a relatively low public profile regarding his personal life compared to some other high-profile technology and telecommunications executives. Beyond his role at T-Mobile, Sievert has served on the board of directors of Starbucks, the global coffeehouse chain.

In 2019, during a period of advertiser scrutiny of certain cable news programming, T-Mobile under Sievert's and Legere's leadership was among the companies noted in relation to advertising decisions involving the Fox News program hosted by Tucker Carlson.[26]

Sievert has also served on corporate boards outside T-Mobile. He was added to the board of directors of Shaw Communications, the Canadian telecommunications company, reflecting his standing in the broader North American telecom industry.[27]

Recognition

Sievert has been recognized within the telecommunications industry for his role in T-Mobile's growth and competitive positioning. Mobile Magazine included Sievert on its list of top telecom CEOs worldwide, acknowledging his leadership of one of the largest wireless carriers in the United States.[28]

His career trajectory from CMO to CEO was profiled by Ad Age as a case study in how marketing leadership can serve as a pathway to the chief executive role, particularly in industries undergoing rapid competitive change.[12] The publication noted that Sievert's marketing background was instrumental in shaping T-Mobile's consumer-facing strategy during a period when the company's brand identity and competitive positioning were central to its business success.

The announcement of his succession by Srini Gopalan in September 2025 generated extensive media coverage from technology, business, and telecommunications publications, reflecting the significance of the T-Mobile CEO position within the American telecommunications landscape.[1][21][22]

Legacy

Sievert's tenure at T-Mobile, spanning from his arrival as CMO in 2012 through his departure as CEO in 2025, encompassed one of the most significant transformations in the American telecommunications industry. When he joined the company, T-Mobile was the fourth-largest wireless carrier in the United States, behind AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint. By the time he stepped down as CEO, T-Mobile had absorbed Sprint and established itself as one of the three major carriers, with a customer base and network footprint that rivaled its larger competitors.

The T-Mobile–Sprint merger, which closed on Sievert's first day as CEO, was one of the largest telecommunications mergers in American history. The integration of two major wireless carriers—each with tens of millions of subscribers, separate network infrastructures, and distinct corporate cultures—was a complex undertaking that defined Sievert's time as chief executive. The successful completion of this integration, including the shutdown of Sprint's legacy network and the migration of its customers to T-Mobile's systems, was a central accomplishment of his tenure.

Sievert's path from CMO to COO to president to CEO at a single company over the course of eight years illustrated a model of internal executive development and succession planning. His promotion pattern reflected T-Mobile's approach of developing its leadership pipeline from within the organization during a period of strategic continuity.

The handoff to Srini Gopalan in 2025 marked the beginning of a new chapter for T-Mobile, with the company's press materials emphasizing a "digital-first transformation" as the next phase of the company's evolution.[7] Sievert's continued involvement as vice chairman suggested an orderly transition designed to maintain continuity as the company moved into its next strategic era.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert is stepping down".The Verge.September 22, 2025.https://www.theverge.com/news/782429/t-mobile-ceo-mike-sievert-stepping-down-srini-gopalan.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "T-Mobile Names Tech, Marketing Veteran as CMO".Ad Age.https://adage.com/article/digital/t-mobile-names-tech-marketing-veteran-cmo/238398.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "T-Mobile names Mike Sievert chief operating officer".GeekWire.https://www.geekwire.com/2015/t-mobile-names-mike-sievert-chief-operating-officer/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "T-Mobile promotes Mike Sievert to president as Sprint acquisition process continues".GeekWire.https://www.geekwire.com/2018/t-mobile-promotes-mike-sievert-president-sprint-acquisition-process-continues/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "T-Mobile Executive Mike Sievert to Take Top Job in May".The Wall Street Journal.https://www.wsj.com/articles/t-mobile-executive-mike-sievert-to-take-top-job-in-may-11574086352.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "T-Mobile Closes Sprint Merger".The New York Times.April 1, 2020.https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/01/business/media/tmobile-closes-sprint-merger.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 "Srini Gopalan to Succeed Mike Sievert as T-Mobile CEO on November 1, 2025".Business Wire.September 22, 2025.https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250921456359/en/Srini-Gopalan-to-Succeed-Mike-Sievert-as-T-Mobile-CEO-on-November-1-2025.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 "T-Mobile's next CEO Mike Sievert is Canton native".The Canton Repository.November 29, 2019.https://www.cantonrep.com/news/20191129/t-mobilersquos-next-ceo-mike-sievert-is-canton-native.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  9. ↑ "Microsoft hires AT&T executive to manage Windows".Network World.https://www.networkworld.com/article/2318884/microsoft-hires-at-t-executive-to-manage-windows.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  10. ↑ "Microsoft Longhorn indigestion".The Register.March 18, 2005.https://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/03/18/microsoft_longhorn_indigestion/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  11. ↑ "Lenovo buys mystery start-up company".Computerworld.https://www.computerworld.com/article/2530611/lenovo-buys-mystery-start-up-company.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "From CMO to CEO: How Marketing Roused T-Mobile".Ad Age.https://adage.com/article/digital/cmo-ceo-roused-t-mobile/294513.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "T-Mobile promotes Mike Sievert to COO, Andrew Sherrard to marketing".Vox.https://www.vox.com/2015/2/18/11559202/t-mobile-promotes-mike-sievert-to-coo-andrew-sherrard-to-marketing.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  14. ↑ "T-Mobile promotes Mike Sievert to president".Fierce Wireless.https://www.fiercewireless.com/wireless/t-mobile-promotes-mike-sievert-to-president.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  15. ↑ "T-Mobile's John Legere is leaving as CEO in 2020, Mike Sievert to take over".The Verge.November 18, 2019.https://www.theverge.com/2019/11/18/20970391/tmobile-john-legere-leaving-as-ceo-2020-mike-sievert.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  16. ↑ "John Legere, T-Mobile CEO, stepping down and making way for Mike Sievert".CBS News.November 18, 2019.https://www.cbsnews.com/news/john-legere-tmobile-ceo-stepping-down-and-making-way-for-mike-sievert/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  17. ↑ "T-Mobile Names Mike Sievert to Succeed John Legere as CEO".Bloomberg News.November 18, 2019.https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-11-18/t-mobile-names-mike-sievert-to-succeed-john-legere-as-ceo.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  18. ↑ "T-Mobile CEO John Legere is stepping down".New York Post.November 18, 2019.https://nypost.com/2019/11/18/t-mobile-ceo-john-legere-is-stepping-down/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  19. ↑ "T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert commits to significant changes to increase diversity".TmoNews.June 2020.https://www.tmonews.com/2020/06/t-mobile-ceo-mike-sievert-commits-significant-changes-increase-diversity/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  20. ↑ "Is T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert going to step down early?".Fierce Network.June 9, 2025.https://www.fierce-network.com/wireless/report-mike-sievert-step-down-early-t-mobile-ceo.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 "Who is T-Mobile's new CEO? Veteran telecom exec Srini Gopalan to succeed Mike Sievert in top role".GeekWire.September 22, 2025.https://www.geekwire.com/2025/who-is-t-mobiles-new-ceo-veteran-telecom-exec-srini-gopalan-to-succeed-mike-sievert-in-top-role/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 "T-Mobile's Mike Sievert to Become Un-CEO: Srini Gopalan Takes Over Nov. 1".CNET.September 22, 2025.https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/t-mobiles-mike-sievert-to-become-un-ceo-srini-gopalan-takes-over-nov-1/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  23. ↑ "Meet the New T-Mobile CEO: History, Salary, More".Channel Futures.September 22, 2025.https://www.channelfutures.com/people-on-the-move/meet-the-new-t-mobile-ceo-history-salary-more.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  24. ↑ "T-Mobile COO Gopalan to Succeed Sievert as CEO".425business.com.September 22, 2025.https://www.425business.com/news/t-mobile-srini-gopalan-new-ceo/article_f97ae8cd-118f-4646-a30d-9b2c8f80b2db.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  25. ↑ "Srini Gopalan to succeed Mike Sievert as T‑Mobile CEO on November 1, 2025".Police1.September 24, 2025.https://www.police1.com/police-products/communications/srini-gopalan-to-succeed-mike-sievert-as-t-mobile-ceo-on-november-1-2025.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  26. ↑ "Tucker Carlson advertisers leave Fox News show".CBS News.https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tucker-carlson-advertisers-leave-fox-news-show/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  27. ↑ "Shaw adds to wireless focus, adding T-Mobile's Sievert to board".Seeking Alpha.https://seekingalpha.com/news/3305013-shaw-adds-to-wireless-focus-adding-t-mobiles-sievert-to-board.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  28. ↑ "Top 10 Telecom CEOs Worldwide: Mike Sievert, T-Mobile".Mobile Magazine.https://www.mobile-magazine.com/top10/top-10-telecom-ceos-worldwide/mike-sievert-t-mobile.Retrieved 2026-02-24.

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