Biography: Gary D. Forsee

Episode 504
CAPTURING THE CHECKERED FLAG: Winning Customers Through Savvy Sports Marketing

Featured Guest:

Gary D. Forsee
Chairman & CEO, Sprint Nextel Corp.

Gary D. Forsee is chairman and chief executive officer of Sprint Nextel Corporation, a leading provider of wireless and wireline communications services that brings the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users.

Within his first year as CEO of Sprint Nextel, major strategic milestones have been achieved that repositioned the company into one that is mobility-focused. Under Forsee's leadership, Sprint Nextel struck a landmark joint venture with the largest cable companies to provide wireless and wireline services, completed the spin-off of its Local telephone operations and initiated a first-of-its-kind partnership to deploy WiMAX technology as the next-generation platform for mobility in the United States. This repositioning enables Sprint Nextel to converge its unique wireless and Internet wireline assets to create an entirely new suite of mobility and IP-based products and services for customers.

As Sprint Nextel chairman and CEO, Forsee has worked to establish a corporate culture of innovation and performance integrated with corporate social responsibility. In 2006, FORTUNE Magazine named Sprint Nextel the leading innovator in the telecom category and the second most admired company in the same category. Sprint Nextel was also named the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce's 2006 "Corporation of the Year" and has been on DiversityInc's "Top 50 Companies for Diversity" list since 2004.

Forsee has also been recognized by BusinessWeek magazine which named him one of the best business leaders in America in 2004 and 2005 and, one of the best managers of 2004. Additionally, Forbes listed Sprint Nextel as one of 26 Best Managed Companies for 2005.

Prior to assuming his current role at Sprint Nextel in 2005, Forsee served as chief executive officer and chairman of Sprint since 2003. Before joining Sprint, Forsee served as vice chairman of BellSouth Corporation where he was responsible for all of BellSouth's domestic operations and chaired the Cingular Wireless joint venture.

Forsee's more than 35 years in the telecommunications industry also includes various leadership positions with Sprint, Global One, AT&T and Southwestern Bell.

Forsee holds a bachelor's degree in engineering from the University of Missouri at Rolla. In May 2005, the university awarded Forsee with an honorary Doctor of Engineering degree. Forsee presently serves on the university's Board of Trustees. He presently serves on the University of Missouri-Rolla Board of Trustees and is a member of The Business Roundtable and The Business Council.

In December 2006, President George W. Bush appointed Forsee as the next chairman of the President's National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee. Forsee has served on this committee since May 2004. Forsee also serves on the National Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America and was a previous chairman of the National Board of Trustees of the March of Dimes.