Srini Gopalan to take over as T-Mobile CEO amid industry uncertainty

Srini Gopalan

T-Mobile has named Srini Gopalan as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective from 1 November. He will succeed Mike Sievert, who transitions into the newly created role of Vice-Chairman. Sievert described Gopalan as the natural successor to lead the company forward.

T-Mobile, headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, is one of the biggest telecom operators in the United States, with more than 110 million customers. Known for its aggressive pricing and wide 5G rollout, the company has positioned itself as a value-driven competitor to AT&T and Verizon. It also runs Metro by T-Mobile for budget users, and its network expanded significantly after merging with Sprint in 2020.

Gopalan currently serves as Chief Operating Officer. He has overseen acquisitions that strengthened T-Mobile’s 5G and fibre presence in the US, while pushing the operator towards becoming more digital-first with the use of AI and data-driven strategies. Expressing gratitude, Gopalan said he was committed to continuing T-Mobile’s customer-first approach and expanding the Un-carrier strategy.

With over three decades of experience, Gopalan brings global expertise across telecom, technology and financial services. He previously served as CEO of Deutsche Telekom Germany, where he accelerated fibre expansion and boosted growth. His earlier career included stints at Bharti Airtel as Consumer Director, Vodafone as Consumer Director, and T-Mobile UK as Chief Marketing Officer. Before entering telecom, he held senior roles at Capital One and Accenture, and began his career with Unilever India.

Academically, Gopalan is an alumnus of Delhi Public School, R.K. Puram, and completed his MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, graduating in 1992.

Outgoing CEO Mike Sievert praised his successor, highlighting Gopalan’s role in driving record growth this year. “Srini is ready to lead,” he said.

Gopalan’s appointment comes at a time when the American telecom industry faces regulatory hurdles, shifting consumer behaviour and higher costs linked to changes in H-1B visa rules. The industry has been among the hardest hit by the tightening of skilled immigration policies, making leadership transitions even more critical.