Mike Sievert

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Mike Sievert
Sievert in 2021
Mike Sievert
BornTemplate:Birth year and age
BirthplaceCanton, Ohio, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationBusiness executive
TitleVice Chairman of T-Mobile US (from November 2025); formerly CEO (2020–2025)
EmployerT-Mobile US
Known forLeading T-Mobile US as CEO through the Sprint merger integration and subsequent growth period
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 2020 to October 2025. A native of Canton, Ohio, Sievert rose through the ranks of the technology and telecommunications industries over a career spanning more than three decades, holding leadership positions at Microsoft, AT&T Wireless, and several technology startups before joining T-Mobile in 2012 as its chief marketing officer.[1] He ascended through the company as chief operating officer and then president before being named CEO in succession to John Legere, assuming the role on April 1, 2020—the same day T-Mobile completed its landmark merger with Sprint Corporation.[2] During his five-and-a-half-year tenure as CEO, Sievert oversaw the integration of Sprint's network and customer base into T-Mobile, expanded the company's 5G footprint, and led the carrier's push into new business lines including broadband internet. In September 2025, T-Mobile announced that Sievert would step down as CEO effective November 1, 2025, to be succeeded by COO Srini Gopalan, with Sievert transitioning to the role of vice chairman.[3]

Early Life

Mike Sievert was born in 1969 and grew up in Canton, Ohio, a mid-sized city in northeastern Ohio's Stark County.[1] Canton, known historically as the home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, provided a Midwestern upbringing for Sievert. Details about his family background and childhood remain largely private, though his Canton roots were highlighted in local media coverage when he was named as T-Mobile's next CEO in late 2019.[1]

Sievert left Ohio to pursue higher education on the East Coast, enrolling at the University of Pennsylvania, one of the Ivy League institutions located in Philadelphia. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the university.[1] The University of Pennsylvania's rigorous academic environment, which includes the Wharton School of business among its undergraduate programs, provided a foundation for Sievert's subsequent career in technology marketing and business leadership. Specific details regarding his major field of study or extracurricular activities at Penn have not been widely reported.

After completing his undergraduate education, Sievert entered the technology sector, beginning a career trajectory that would take him through some of the most prominent companies in the American technology and telecommunications landscape during a period of rapid growth and transformation in both industries.

Education

Sievert attended the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree.[1] The University of Pennsylvania, founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1740, is one of eight Ivy League universities and has long been recognized for its programs in business, communications, and the liberal arts. Sievert's educational background at Penn preceded his entry into the technology industry in the early 1990s, a period that coincided with the rise of personal computing and the early commercialization of the internet.

Career

Early Career and Microsoft

Before joining T-Mobile, Sievert built a career in the technology and telecommunications sectors that spanned approximately two decades. He held positions at AT&T Wireless before moving to Microsoft, where he served in a management role related to the company's Windows operating system division. In 2005, Microsoft hired Sievert from AT&T Wireless to help manage aspects of its Windows business.[4] This move came during a significant period for Microsoft, as the company was developing what would eventually become Windows Vista (codenamed "Longhorn"), a major and complex update to its flagship operating system.[5]

Sievert's experience at both AT&T Wireless and Microsoft exposed him to the intersection of telecommunications, consumer technology, and large-scale enterprise operations—skill sets that would prove relevant to his later roles in the wireless carrier industry.

Startup and Venture Experience

In addition to his work at major corporations, Sievert was involved in the startup ecosystem. He was associated with a technology startup that was acquired by Lenovo, the Chinese multinational technology company.[6] This experience in the entrepreneurial side of the technology industry added a different dimension to Sievert's resume, complementing his corporate background with exposure to the faster-paced, more agile dynamics of smaller companies.

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

Sievert joined T-Mobile US in 2012 as the company's chief marketing officer (CMO), a critical hire as the carrier was preparing for a new strategic direction.[7] His arrival came shortly before John Legere took over as CEO in September 2012, and the two executives would go on to work closely together in reshaping T-Mobile's brand identity and competitive positioning.

Under Legere's leadership, T-Mobile launched what it called its "Un-carrier" strategy—a series of consumer-friendly moves designed to disrupt traditional wireless industry practices such as long-term contracts, overage fees, and restrictive data plans. As CMO, Sievert played a central role in shaping and communicating this strategy to consumers and the market. His background in technology marketing, combined with experience at both large corporations and startups, positioned him to help translate T-Mobile's operational changes into compelling consumer messaging.[8]

The Un-carrier strategy proved effective in driving subscriber growth and repositioning T-Mobile from the fourth-largest U.S. wireless carrier into a more formidable competitor to AT&T and Verizon. Sievert's marketing leadership during this transformative period was later cited as a key step in his path to the CEO role.[8]

Chief Operating Officer (2015–2018)

In February 2015, T-Mobile promoted Sievert from CMO to chief operating officer (COO), a significant elevation that expanded his responsibilities beyond marketing to encompass broader operational oversight of the company.[9][10] As COO, Sievert was responsible for the day-to-day operations of T-Mobile's business, overseeing areas including marketing, sales, customer experience, and products.

The promotion to COO positioned Sievert as one of the most senior executives at T-Mobile, second in prominence to Legere. During this period, T-Mobile continued to gain subscribers at a rapid pace, chipping away at the market share of larger rivals. The Un-carrier strategy continued to evolve with new consumer offers and operational initiatives, many of which fell under Sievert's expanded purview as COO.

President of T-Mobile (2018–2020)

In September 2018, T-Mobile promoted Sievert again, this time to the position of president, further solidifying his role as Legere's primary lieutenant and the company's second-in-command.[11][12] The promotion came during a period of intense activity for T-Mobile, as the company was in the midst of seeking regulatory approval for its proposed merger with Sprint Corporation, which had been announced in April 2018.

As president, Sievert took on an even greater share of operational and strategic responsibility, working alongside Legere to navigate the complex regulatory and political landscape surrounding the Sprint merger. The proposed combination of the third- and fourth-largest U.S. wireless carriers faced scrutiny from the Federal Communications Commission, the Department of Justice, and a coalition of state attorneys general who filed a lawsuit to block the deal.

CEO of T-Mobile (2020–2025)

In November 2019, T-Mobile announced that John Legere would step down as CEO and that Sievert would succeed him, with the transition originally planned for May 2020.[13][14][15][16] The announcement was also reported by Bloomberg News, which noted the significance of the leadership transition at a pivotal moment for the company.[17]

The transition was accelerated by approximately one month. Sievert officially assumed the CEO role on April 1, 2020, the same day T-Mobile completed its $26 billion merger with Sprint Corporation.[2] The simultaneous leadership change and merger closing represented one of the most consequential days in the history of the U.S. wireless industry, creating a combined company with more than 100 million customers.

Sievert's early tenure as CEO was shaped by two enormous challenges: integrating Sprint's network, employees, and customers into T-Mobile, and navigating the operational disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which began affecting the United States in earnest in March 2020, just days before he assumed the top role. The pandemic forced rapid adaptation of T-Mobile's retail operations and customer service, while the Sprint integration required the technical consolidation of two separate wireless networks and the migration of millions of Sprint customers to T-Mobile's systems.

In June 2020, Sievert publicly committed to making significant changes within T-Mobile to increase diversity and inclusion within the company, responding to broader societal conversations about racial equity in the United States.[18]

Under Sievert's leadership, T-Mobile pursued an aggressive 5G network buildout strategy, leveraging the mid-band spectrum acquired through the Sprint merger to deploy a nationwide 5G network. The company also expanded into the home broadband market with its T-Mobile Home Internet service, using its 5G and 4G LTE networks to offer fixed wireless internet as an alternative to traditional cable and fiber providers.

Throughout his CEO tenure, Sievert maintained a lower public profile than his predecessor Legere, who had become known for his brash personal brand on social media and at industry events. Sievert adopted a more measured leadership style while continuing to advance the Un-carrier positioning that had defined T-Mobile's competitive approach.

CEO Transition and Vice Chairmanship (2025)

In June 2025, reports emerged in the German newspaper Handelsblatt suggesting that Sievert might step down from the CEO role before the end of his contract.[19] On September 22, 2025, T-Mobile officially announced that Sievert would step down as CEO effective November 1, 2025, and would be succeeded by Srini Gopalan, the company's chief operating officer who had previously served as a senior executive at T-Mobile's parent company, Deutsche Telekom.[3][20][21]

The announcement described Sievert as transitioning to the role of vice chairman of T-Mobile, a position that would allow him to continue to be involved with the company in an advisory capacity.[3] The company characterized the transition as part of a planned succession, with Gopalan described as "uniquely positioned to lead T-Mobile's next era of growth and digital-first transformation."[3]

Sievert's tenure as CEO thus spanned from April 1, 2020, to October 31, 2025—approximately five years and seven months during which he led the company through the Sprint integration, a global pandemic, and a major network transformation.[22]

Personal Life

Sievert was born and raised in Canton, Ohio.[1] He has maintained a relatively private personal life compared to some of his peers in the telecommunications industry. His hometown roots in Canton were a subject of local media interest when he was named as T-Mobile's next CEO in November 2019, with the Canton Repository running a feature identifying him as a Canton native.[1]

In addition to his role at T-Mobile, Sievert has served on the board of directors of Starbucks, the global coffeehouse chain headquartered in Seattle.[23] He also served on the board of Shaw Communications, the Canadian telecommunications company, contributing to its wireless strategy.[24]

Sievert has been based in the Seattle metropolitan area during his tenure at T-Mobile, which is headquartered in Bellevue, Washington.[25]

Recognition

Sievert's career trajectory from CMO to CEO of a major U.S. wireless carrier has been noted as an example of the marketing-to-CEO pipeline in corporate America. Ad Age profiled the path from CMO to CEO that Sievert followed, highlighting how his marketing background informed his approach to leading T-Mobile.[8]

He has been included in lists of notable telecommunications CEOs. Mobile Magazine listed Sievert among the top telecom CEOs worldwide, citing T-Mobile's growth and competitive positioning under his leadership.[26]

The leadership transition at T-Mobile received extensive coverage in technology, business, and telecommunications media. News outlets including The Wall Street Journal, The Verge, Bloomberg News, CBS News, the New York Post, CNET, GeekWire, and Channel Futures covered both his ascension to the CEO role in 2019–2020 and his planned departure in 2025, reflecting the significance of the position within the U.S. telecommunications industry.[13][14][17][15][16][20][22][27]

Legacy

Sievert's tenure at T-Mobile, spanning more than 13 years from his arrival as CMO in 2012 through his departure as CEO in 2025, encompassed one of the most transformative periods in the history of the U.S. wireless industry. He was part of the leadership team that executed the Un-carrier strategy under John Legere, fundamentally altering competitive dynamics in the American wireless market by eliminating practices such as two-year service contracts and introducing unlimited data plans.

As CEO, Sievert's most consequential undertaking was the integration of Sprint Corporation into T-Mobile following the completion of their merger on April 1, 2020.[2] The combination of the two companies required the consolidation of two separate wireless networks—including the decommissioning of Sprint's CDMA network—the migration of tens of millions of Sprint customers, and the unification of retail operations, customer service systems, and corporate cultures. The mid-band spectrum assets acquired through the Sprint merger provided the foundation for T-Mobile's 5G network deployment, which the company used to establish an early lead in 5G coverage among U.S. carriers.

Under Sievert, T-Mobile also expanded beyond its traditional wireless business into new markets, most notably fixed wireless broadband, positioning the company as an alternative to incumbent internet service providers. This diversification of T-Mobile's revenue streams represented a strategic evolution of the company beyond its roots as a mobile-only carrier.

When T-Mobile announced Sievert's departure, the company characterized the moment as the beginning of a new chapter, with incoming CEO Srini Gopalan tasked with leading "T-Mobile's next era of growth and digital-first transformation."[3] Sievert's transition to vice chairman suggested a continued, if reduced, connection to the company he had helped reshape over more than a decade.[3]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "T-Mobile's next CEO Mike Sievert is Canton native".The Canton Repository.2019-11-29.https://www.cantonrep.com/news/20191129/t-mobilersquos-next-ceo-mike-sievert-is-canton-native.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "T-Mobile Closes Sprint Merger".The New York Times.2020-04-01.https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/01/business/media/tmobile-closes-sprint-merger.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 "Srini Gopalan to Succeed Mike Sievert as T-Mobile CEO on November 1, 2025".Business Wire.2025-09-22.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.
  4. ↑ "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.
  5. ↑ "Microsoft Longhorn indigestion".The Register.2005-03-18.https://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/03/18/microsoft_longhorn_indigestion/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  6. ↑ "Lenovo buys mystery start-up company".Computerworld.https://www.computerworld.com/article/2530611/lenovo-buys-mystery-start-up-company.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  7. ↑ "T-Mobile Names Tech, Marketing Veteran CMO".Ad Age.https://adage.com/article/digital/t-mobile-names-tech-marketing-veteran-cmo/238398.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "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.
  9. ↑ "T-Mobile names Mike Sievert chief operating officer".GeekWire.2015-02-18.https://www.geekwire.com/2015/t-mobile-names-mike-sievert-chief-operating-officer/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  10. ↑ "T-Mobile promotes Mike Sievert to COO, Andrew Sherrard to marketing".Vox.2015-02-18.https://www.vox.com/2015/2/18/11559202/t-mobile-promotes-mike-sievert-to-coo-andrew-sherrard-to-marketing.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  11. ↑ "T-Mobile promotes Mike Sievert to president as Sprint acquisition process continues".GeekWire.2018-09-25.https://www.geekwire.com/2018/t-mobile-promotes-mike-sievert-president-sprint-acquisition-process-continues/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  12. ↑ "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.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "T-Mobile Executive Mike Sievert to Take Top Job in May".The Wall Street Journal.2019-11-18.https://www.wsj.com/articles/t-mobile-executive-mike-sievert-to-take-top-job-in-may-11574086352.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "T-Mobile's John Legere is leaving as CEO in 2020 and Mike Sievert will take over".The Verge.2019-11-18.https://www.theverge.com/2019/11/18/20970391/tmobile-john-legere-leaving-as-ceo-2020-mike-sievert.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "John Legere, T-Mobile CEO, stepping down and making way for Mike Sievert".CBS News.2019-11-18.https://www.cbsnews.com/news/john-legere-tmobile-ceo-stepping-down-and-making-way-for-mike-sievert/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "T-Mobile CEO John Legere is stepping down".New York Post.2019-11-18.https://nypost.com/2019/11/18/t-mobile-ceo-john-legere-is-stepping-down/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "T-Mobile Names Mike Sievert to Succeed John Legere as CEO".Bloomberg News.2019-11-18.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 Mike Sievert commits to significant changes to increase diversity".TmoNews.2020-06.https://www.tmonews.com/2020/06/t-mobile-ceo-mike-sievert-commits-significant-changes-increase-diversity/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  19. ↑ "Is T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert going to step down early?".Fierce Network.2025-06-09.https://www.fierce-network.com/wireless/report-mike-sievert-step-down-early-t-mobile-ceo.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "T-Mobile's Mike Sievert to Become Un-CEO: Srini Gopalan Takes Over Nov. 1".CNET.2025-09-22.https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/t-mobiles-mike-sievert-to-become-un-ceo-srini-gopalan-takes-over-nov-1/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  21. ↑ "T-Mobile CEO Mike Sievert is stepping down".The Verge.2025-09-22.https://www.theverge.com/news/782429/t-mobile-ceo-mike-sievert-stepping-down-srini-gopalan.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 "Who is T-Mobile's new CEO? Veteran telecom exec Srini Gopalan to succeed Mike Sievert in top role".GeekWire.2025-09-22.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.
  23. ↑ "Starbucks Board of Directors".Starbucks.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  24. ↑ "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.
  25. ↑ "T-Mobile COO Gopalan to Succeed Sievert as CEO".425 Business.2025-09-22.https://www.425business.com/news/t-mobile-srini-gopalan-new-ceo/article_f97ae8cd-118f-4646-a30d-9b2c8f80b2db.html.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  26. ↑ "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.
  27. ↑ "Meet the New T-Mobile CEO: History, Salary, More".Channel Futures.2025-09-22.https://www.channelfutures.com/people-on-the-move/meet-the-new-t-mobile-ceo-history-salary-more.Retrieved 2026-02-24.

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