Clearwire Hires CEO
Ex-Vodafone Exec Morrow To Helm Wireless Firm
Mike Farrell -- Multichannel News, 3/9/2009 5:10:26 PM
Clearwire said Monday that it has named former Pacific Gas & Electric and Vodafone executive William Morrow as CEO, replacing interim CEO Ben Wolff, who will become the wireless company's co-chariman, a position he will share with current chairman Craig McCaw.
Morrow has more than 30 years experience in the telecommunications industry. Before joining PG&E in 2006, Morrow had served in several senior positions at Vodafone, including CEO of Vodafone, Europe, and Vodafone UK Ltd.; and president of Vodafone KK in Japan. He also served as president of Japan Telecom Co. and held senior executive positions with wireless telecommunications carrier AirTouch International.
"This experience, coupled with his outstanding leadership capabilities, makes Bill the perfect choice to lead Clearwire," McCaw said in a statement. "I have every confidence that he has the capability, intelligence and dedication to inspire the exemplary team at Clearwire to fulfill the dream of making the power of the Internet truly mobile."
Clearwire made headlines last year after a consortium of industry heavy hitters - Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks, Google and Intel - agreed to invest $3.2 billion in the company to build a next-generation WiMax network with Sprint Nextel across the country over the next few years. The first markets - Portland, Ore. and Baltimore - were launched earlier this year.
As co-chairman, Wolff will focus on Clearwire's strategic and financing opportunities. In addition, he will continue to serve on the executive committee and board of CTIA, and he will also continue in his role as president of McCaw's investment company, Eagle River.
"The chance to lead Clearwire at a time when the company sits on the cusp of doing something truly remarkable - to change the way people connect to and use the Internet - was not one to be missed," Morrow said in a statement. "Clearwire's business model and unique assets have us well positioned to meet the rapidly growing demand for mobile broadband services. I'm excited at the prospect of working with everyone at Clearwire as we execute our plan to build a mobile WiMAX network covering up to 120 million people in more than 80 markets by 2010."
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