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Sprint PCS chief operating officer departs

Andrew Sukawaty is leaving his post at the wireless phone service to pursue other opportunities and will be replaced by Ronald T. LeMay, COO of parent company Sprint.

Jim Hu Staff Writer, CNET News.com
Jim Hu
covers home broadband services and the Net's portal giants.
Jim Hu
Wireless phone service Sprint PCS' chief operating officer, Andrew Sukawaty, today announced he is leaving his post to pursue other opportunities.

Sukawaty, who joined Sprint PCS in 1996 as its chief executive, will be replaced by Ronald T. LeMay, chief operating officer of parent company Sprint, on an interim basis. Sukawaty did not disclose details about his new position.

"Andy Sukawaty is a talented leader and has directed a team that has made Sprint PCS the premier wireless provider in the country," LeMay said in a statement. "We will miss Andy's considerable management talent, and we wish him well in his new endeavors."

Sukawaty's departure comes as wireless voice and Internet services heat up. Sprint PCS has inked several partnerships with Web companies, including Yahoo and America Online, to offer content and services on its Wireless Web feature. Many Web companies are trying to develop wireless strategies, touting wireless products and services as the Internet's next high-growth area.

While Web companies want to piggyback on Sprint PCS' network, the cell-phone service faces considerable competition. AT&T recently spun off its wireless division in one of the biggest public offerings ever. And Verizon Wireless, created by the merger of Bell Atlantic and Vodafone's U.S. mobile phone networks, is also planning to go public this year.

Sukawaty will act as a consultant to LeMay for the next month to help with the transition and will reveal his future plans on a later date.