Daniel Hesse
{{Short description|American CEO}}
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{{Infobox person
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| name = Daniel Hesse
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| nationality = American
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| education = University of Notre Dame (B.A.)
Cornell University (M.B.A.)
MIT Sloan School of Management (M.S.)
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| predecessor = Gary D. Forsee
| successor = Marcelo Claure
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| boards = PNC Financial Services
Boys and Girls Clubs of America
Akamai Technologies
The JUST Capital Foundation
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Daniel R. Hesse (born c. 1953) is the former chief executive officer of Sprint Corporation.{{cite web|url=http://investors.sprint.com/CorporateProfile.aspx?iid=4057219#PRdialog |title=Sprint Press Releases |publisher=sprint.com |date= |access-date=2014-08-06}}
In January 2016, Hesse joined the board of directors for PNC Financial Services{{Cite news|url=http://www.kansascity.com/news/business/technology/article53558935.html|title=Ex-Sprint CEO Dan Hesse joins PNC board|work=kansascity|access-date=2018-05-25|language=en}} where he chairs the Technology Subcommittee. He was elected to the board of directors for Akamai Technologies in August 2016 and named as Chairman in June 2021.{{Cite news|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/former-sprint-ceo-dan-hesse-143000112.html|title=Former Sprint CEO Dan Hesse Joins Adknowledge Board of Directors|access-date=2018-05-25|language=en-US}}
On October 20, 2022, Hesse was inducted into the Wireless Hall of Fame for his contributions to the wireless industry and efforts in sustainability and corporate responsibility.{{Cite web |title=Four Innovators Inducted into the Wireless Hall of Fame |url=https://wirelesshistoryfoundation.org/four-innovators-inducted-into-the-wireless-hall-of-fame-2/ |access-date=2022-10-25 |website=wirelesshistoryfoundation.org}}{{cite web |title=The Wireless Hall of Fame Celebrated the Induction of Four Wireless Hall of Fame Members |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231011347083/en/The-Wireless-Hall-of-Fame-Celebrated-the-Induction-of-Four-Wireless-Hall-of-Fame-Members |website=BusinessWire}}
Early life and education
Hesse's father was a career army officer. As a result, Hesse attended 8 different schools between first grade in Italy and graduating from Stuttgart American High School in Germany. He received a bachelor's degree from the University of Notre Dame in government and international studies in 1975,{{Cite web|url=https://www.nd.edu/about/notable-alumni/#H|title=Notable Alumni {{!}} About ND {{!}} University of Notre Dame|last=Dame|first=ENR/PAZ {{!}} University Communications {{!}} University of Notre|website=University of Notre Dame|language=en-US|access-date=2018-05-25}} an MBA from the Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University in 1977, and Master's of Science from the MIT Sloan School of Management as a Sloan Fellow in 1989.
Career
=AT&T=
Hesse spent 23 years at AT&T where he started out as an intern.
From 1991 to 1995, he was president and CEO of AT&T Network Systems International based in the Netherlands.{{cite web |title=Building a Sustainable Brand |url=https://www.leadersmag.com/issues/2015.1_Jan/Sustainable_Value_Creation/LEADERS-Daniel-Hesse.html |website=Leaders Mag}}
He launched the online division's AT&T Worldnet service in February 1996, which introduced unlimited internet dial up for $20/month for subscribers to AT&T's long-distance services.{{cite web |last=Cauley |first=Leslie |url=https://www.usatoday.com/money/companies/management/2008-02-24-sprint-hesse_N.htm |title=CEO Profile: Sprint's new CEO showed grit from the start |publisher=Usatoday.Com |date=2008-02-25 |access-date=2011-01-08}}
In May 1997, he became chief executive officer of AT&T Wireless. In 1998, Hesse oversaw the launch of AT&T's Digital One Rate.{{Cite news |url=http://www.rcrwireless.com/19981221/carriers/hesse-hits-home-run-with-one-rate-plan |title=Hesse Hits Home Run with One-Rate Plan |date=1998-12-21 |work=RCR Wireless News |access-date=2018-05-25 |language=en-US}} During this time, Hesse was named 1998's Wireless Industry Person of the Year RCR Magazine.{{Cite news |last=Gregson |first=Reily |date=30 November 1999 |title=RCR Wireless News' Persons of the Year |url=https://www.rcrwireless.com/20011022/carriers/rcr-wireless-news-persons-of-the-year |work=RCR Wireless News |access-date=}}
=Terabeam Corporation=
From March 2000 to June 2004, Hesse was CEO and chairman of Terabeam Corporation.{{cite web|url=http://www.spoke.com/info/pYt3xx8/DanHesse |title=Dan Hesse, Ceo, Sprint Nextel |publisher=Spoke |date=2007-12-18 |access-date=2011-01-08}}
=Embarq Corporation=
In June 2005, Hesse joined Sprint and oversaw the spinoff of its landline division into a separate public company– Embarq Corporation.{{Cite web|url=http://videolectures.net/dan_hesse/|title=Dan Hesse - Embarq Corporation - VideoLectures.NET|website=videolectures.net|language=en|access-date=2018-05-25}} Hesse was the President and CEO of Embarq from May 2006 until December 2007.{{Cite news|date=2007-12-18|title=Embarq CEO Hesse resigns, Gerke named interim chief|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/embarq-ceo-idUSWNAS480820071218|access-date=2020-05-27}}
=Sprint=
Hesse was named CEO of Sprint Nextel on December 17, 2007.{{cite web|author=Daniel R. Hesse |url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=638178&ticker=S:US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101007153336/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=638178&ticker=S:US |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 7, 2010 |title=Daniel Hesse: Executive Profile & Biography – BusinessWeek |publisher=Investing.businessweek.com |date= |access-date=2011-01-08}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.computerworld.com/article/2538291/industry-veteran-dan-hesse-named-new-sprint-ceo.html|title=Industry veteran Dan Hesse named new Sprint CEO|last=Hamblen|first=Matt|date=2007-12-18|website=Computerworld|language=en|access-date=2020-01-29}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sprint-idUSN1832037220071218|title=Sprint names Embarq chief as new CEO|date=2007-12-18|work=Reuters|access-date=2020-01-29|language=en}}
During his tenure, Hesse appeared in ten television commercials for the company. The black and white ads, created by Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, were filmed in New York City.{{Cite web|url=https://www.adforum.com/creative-work/ad/player/34441766/central-park-hesse/sprint|title=Sprint - "Central Park - Hesse"|last=States|first=Goodby Silverstein & Partners United|website=www.adforum.com|language=en|access-date=2018-05-25}}
Hesse joined Sprint as the company was losing customers following the merger with Nextel.{{Cite web|last=Reardon|first=Marguerite|date=May 12, 2008|title=Sprint Nextel continues to bleed customers|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/sprint-nextel-continues-to-bleed-customers/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150731024352/http://www.cnet.com:80/news/sprint-nextel-continues-to-bleed-customers/ |archive-date=2015-07-31 |access-date=|website=Cnet}} His strategy to stem further losses included improved customer service,{{Cite news|url=https://go.forrester.com/blogs/12-05-29-the_business_impact_of_an_outside_in_perspective_at_sprint/|title=The Business Impact Of An Outside-In Perspective At Sprint|date=2012-05-29|work=Forrester|access-date=2018-05-25|language=en-US}} an increased emphasis on prepaid cell phones, a deal with Apple to sell iPhones, and a 4G presence investment/ownership stake in WiMAX-provider Clearwire. He also added retail stores across the nation in an attempt for increased in-person customer service.
During Hesse's tenure, Sprint went from last place to first in the wireless industry in customer satisfaction according to JD Power and the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). During this period, Sprint was recognized 20 times for excellence in customer service by JD Power. In 2014, the ACSI recognized Sprint as the most improved US company in customer satisfaction over the previous six years among all 43 industries studied.{{Cite news|url=http://newsroom.sprint.com/sprint-is-first-among-major-wireless-carriers-for-customer-satisfaction.htm|title=Sprint Is First Among Major Wireless Carriers for Customer Satisfaction {{!}} Sprint Newsroom|access-date=2018-05-25|language=en}} During his last two full calendar years as CEO, Sprint's total shareholder return ranked #1 among all S&P 500 companies.{{Cite web|last=Moritz|first=Scott|date=September 24, 2012|title=Sprint's Stock Outperforms Apple as CEO Sees 2014 Profit|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-09-24/sprint-s-stock-outperforms-apple-as-ceo-sees-2014-profit|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151106144427/http://www.bloomberg.com:80/news/articles/2012-09-24/sprint-s-stock-outperforms-apple-as-ceo-sees-2014-profit |archive-date=2015-11-06 |access-date=|website=Bloomberg News}}
Corporate Responsibility Magazine recognized Hesse with the Corporate Responsibility Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013. Hesse was also named a Top Rated CEO on Glassdoor{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=March 26, 2014|title=Dan Hesse is a Top Rated CEO on Glassdoor|url=https://www.t-mobile.com/news/legacy-sprint/dan-hesse-is-a-top-rated-ceo-on-glassdoor|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214010546/https://www.t-mobile.com/news/legacy-sprint/dan-hesse-is-a-top-rated-ceo-on-glassdoor |archive-date=2021-02-14 |access-date=|website=T-Mobile Newsroom}} and one of five "Best Turnaround CEOs of All Time" by Fierce Wireless."{{Cite web|last=Goldstein|first=Phil|date=Oct 19, 2011|title=Best turnaround CEOs of all time|url=https://www.fiercewireless.com/special-report/best-turnaround-ceos-all-time|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160827010844/http://www.fiercewireless.com/special-report/best-turnaround-ceos-all-time |archive-date=2016-08-27 |access-date=|website=}} The American India Foundation honored Hesse for Excellence in Corporate Leadership and Philanthropy in 2014.{{Cite web|last=American India Foundation|date=May 2014|title=Annual Spring Awards Gala, New York|url=https://aif.org/fl_events/annual-spring-awards-gala-new-york/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919214406/https://aif.org/fl_events/annual-spring-awards-gala-new-york/ |archive-date=2020-09-19 |access-date=|website=}}
Hesse led the acquisition of 80 percent of Sprint by Softbank in July 2013 and remained for a year to complete the transition. On August 6, 2014 Sprint announced that Hesse would be succeeded by Marcelo Claure, founder of Brightstar Corporation.{{cite web |author=Doug Duvall |url=http://newsroom.sprint.com/news-releases/sprint-names-marcelo-claure-as-new-president-and-ceo.htm?view_id=7774 |title=Sprint Names Marcelo Claure as New President and CEO |publisher=newsroom.sprint.com |date=2014-08-06 |access-date=2014-08-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810043359/http://newsroom.sprint.com/news-releases/sprint-names-marcelo-claure-as-new-president-and-ceo.htm?view_id=7774 |archive-date=2014-08-10 |url-status=dead }}
Hesse is on the boards of directors for the following organizations:
- The National Board of Governors of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America{{Cite web|url=https://www.bgca.org/about-us/board-of-governors|title=BGCA - Board of Governors|website=www.bgca.org|access-date=2018-05-25}}
- The JUST Capital Foundation{{Cite web|url=https://justcapital.com/about/our-board/|title=Board — JUST Capital|website=JUST Capital|language=en|access-date=2018-05-25}}
- PNC Financial Services, where Hesse chairs the Technology Subcommittee
- Akamai Technologies, Chairman, board member{{Cite press release |last1=Young |first1=Jeff |last2=Barth |first2=Tom |date=15 August 2016 |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/akamai-elects-daniel-r-hesse-to-its-board-of-directors-300313181.html |title=Akamai Elects Daniel R. Hesse to its Board of Directors |publisher=Akamai Technologies |website=Cision Distribution |via=PR Newswire |location=Cambridge, Massachusetts |language=en |access-date=2023-09-01}}{{Cite press release |last1=Sorice |first1=Gina |last2=Barth |first2=Tom |date=18 March 2021 |title=Akamai Announces Board Of Directors Changes |url=https://www.akamai.com/newsroom/press-release/akamai-announces-board-of-directors-changes1 |website=Akamai Technologies |location=Cambridge, Massachusetts |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210318165055/https://www.akamai.com/us/en/about/news/press/2021-press/akamai-announces-board-of-director-changes.jsp |archive-date=2021-03-18 |access-date=2023-09-01}}
References
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{{succession box |
before=Gary D. Forsee |
title=Sprint CEO |
years=2007–2014 |
after=Marcelo Claure
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Category:University of Notre Dame alumni
Category:Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management alumni
Category:MIT Sloan School of Management alumni
Category:Sprint Corporation people
Category:American technology chief executives
Category:American telecommunications industry businesspeople