
Daniel Hesse
American CEO
Daniel R. Hesse (born c. 1953) is the former chief executive officer of Sprint Corporation.2
From Wikipedia’s article on Daniel Hesse (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.
Born 1953.1
About
In January 2016, Hesse joined the board of directors for PNC Financial Services 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.
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.
From Wikipedia’s article on Daniel Hesse, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.2
Companies
- Akamai TechnologiesBoard member Aug 10, 2016 to now11
- PNC Financial ServicesBoard member Jan 19, 2016 to now12
- Tech & Energy Transition CorpBoard member Mar 16, 2021 to Mar 17, 202113
- Sprint CorporationBoard member Dec 19, 2007 to Feb 26, 201414
- Sprint CorporationChief executive officer Dec 19, 2007 to Feb 26, 201414
- Sprint CorporationPresident Dec 19, 2007 to Feb 26, 201414
- VF CorporationBoard member Feb 13, 2006 to Apr 1, 200815
Holdings
Stock this person has reported owning, from the forms officers and directors file with the SEC. See the biggest insider stakes.
Shares held
Akamai Technologies AKAM23,723 shares16$2.1M at $88.55May 20, 2026
As of each latest filing. The line shows shares held over time.
Recent filings
- May 20, 2026Exercised options 2,336 shares of Akamai Technologies16
- Aug 11, 2025Bought 3,000 shares at $72.30 of Akamai Technologies17
- May 16, 2024Exercised options 2,960 shares of Akamai Technologies18
- Jan 1, 2024Exercised options 3,001 shares of Akamai Technologies19
- May 17, 2023Exercised options 4,737 shares of Akamai Technologies20
Early life and education
- Date not recordedMIT Sloan School of Management3
- Date not recordedUniversity of Notre Dame3
- Date not recordedCornell University3
- Date not recordedSamuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management3
- Date not recordedSloan Fellows Program3
- Date not recordedMassachusetts Institute of Technology3
Hesse's father was a career army officer. As a result, Hesse attended 10 total schools, beginning with 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, 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.
From Wikipedia’s article on Daniel Hesse (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.
Career
Occupation: businessperson.9
- Since 2016Board member, Akamai Technologies6
- 2007 to 2014Chief executive officer7 8
- 2005 to 2014Worked at Sprint Corporation4 5
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.
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.
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. During this time, Hesse was named 1998's Wireless Industry Person of the Year RCR Magazine.
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Terabeam Corporation
From March 2000 to June 2004, Hesse was CEO and chairman of Terabeam Corporation.
Embarq Corporation
In June 2005, Hesse joined Sprint and oversaw the spinoff of its landline division into a separate public company– Embarq Corporation. Hesse was the president and CEO of Embarq from May 2006 until December 2007.
Sprint
Hesse was named CEO of Sprint Nextel on December 17, 2007.
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.
Hesse joined Sprint as the company was losing customers following the merger with Nextel. His strategy to stem further losses included improved customer service, 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. During his last two full calendar years as CEO, Sprint's total shareholder return ranked #1 among all S&P 500 companies.
Corporate Responsibility Magazine recognized Hesse with the Corporate Responsibility Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013. Hesse was also named a Top Rated CEO on Glassdoor and one of five "Best Turnaround CEOs of All Time" by Fierce Wireless." The American India Foundation honored Hesse for Excellence in Corporate Leadership and Philanthropy in 2014.
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.
Hesse is on the boards of directors for the following organizations:
The National Board of Governors of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America
The JUST Capital Foundation
PNC Financial Services, where Hesse chairs the Technology Subcommittee
Akamai Technologies, chairman, board member
From Wikipedia’s article on Daniel Hesse (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.
Personal life
- CitizenshipUnited States10
Links
Sources
The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.
- 1WikidataDaniel Hesse on Wikidata
- 2WikipediaDaniel Hesse on Wikipedia
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- 11Wikidata and SEC EDGARAkamai Technologies, Board member
- 12SEC EDGARPNC Financial Services, Board member
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- 14SEC EDGARSprint Corporation, Board member
- 15SEC EDGARVF Corporation, Board member
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- 17SEC EDGARForm 4 filed Aug 12, 2025
- 18SEC EDGARForm 4 filed May 17, 2024
- 19SEC EDGARForm 4 filed Jan 2, 2024
- 20SEC EDGARForm 4 filed May 19, 2023
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