The American corporate landscape has once again placed its faith in Indian talent, with the announcement that Srinivas “Srini” Gopalan will take over as the new Chief Executive Officer of T-Mobile US, one of America’s largest wireless carriers, effective November 1, 2025.
Gopalan, an alumnus of India’s premier educational institutions, has had a remarkable journey that has taken him from Delhi to the pinnacle of the US tech industry.
Gopalan’s foundational education was laid in India, where he attended Delhi Public School (DPS), R.K. Puram, before earning his MBA from the prestigious Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad.
His career began in India with Unilever and Accenture before he took his expertise to international markets. Over a three-decade global career, Gopalan amassed extensive experience in the telecom and financial sectors, holding senior roles at Vodafone, Bharti Airtel, and Capital One. Immediately prior to joining T-Mobile as COO, he successfully served as the CEO of Deutsche Telekom’s German operations.
Gopalan’s appointment comes at a time when the H-1B visa program, which allows skilled foreign workers to take on specialized jobs in the US, is a subject of intense political debate. The rise of a leader who followed this path—and whose success is often cited as a testament to the value of immigrant talent—underscores the deep contributions Indian-origin executives are making to the American economy.
The new CEO, who currently serves as T-Mobile’s Chief Operating Officer, is expected to drive the company’s next phase of growth, focusing on 5G expansion, digital transformation, and integrating AI capabilities to enhance the customer experience. He succeeds Mike Sievert, who will transition to a new role as Vice Chairman of the company.
Gopalan’s elevation reinforces the trend of Indian-origin executives leading major US corporations, joining the ranks of Satya Nadella (Microsoft) and Sundar Pichai (Google/Alphabet).
