Typically Texan in his personal approach - hard-talking, oft en blunt and

brusque, politically inclined and the man who always played tough with terrific deals instinct - that is Edward Whitacre, erstwhile CEO, AT&T (retired in June), to the world… whereas his successor Randall Stephenson comes across as an acutely detail-oriented and number focused, a bit more politically sensitive, a good speaker and a very bright & accessible guy. But one thing is common – both are highly regarded by industry.
The six-foot-four-inch Texan, “Big Ed,” was born on November 4, 1941, in Ennis, Texas. He is married to Linda and blessed with two daughters. He graduated from Texas Tech. University in BS in 1964. This charismatic leader has had a truly phenomenal career graph since his college days, when he agreed to

hammer in fence posts & measure telephone wires of Southwestern Bell for lack of a better position in the company. Of course, the folks there didn’t even imagine he would be the CEO one day! And his drive to excel hardly diminished. He transformed the smallest of the regional Baby Bell companies into one of the leading full service telecommunications companies in the world through a number of acquisitions. “Ed Whit acre transformed an industry & re-established a great American icon in his remarkable career & the new AT&T is built to provide today’s customer with innovative communications & entertainment, anytime & anywhere,” commented Stephenson.