New CEO foresees big future for Sprint

When Gary Forsee was an 18-year-old student about to graduate from Cape Girardeau Central High School in 1968, he never dreamed that one day he would be the top man at a global communications company with 72,000 employees and $27 billion in annual revenue.

But that's just where he has found himself, with two months under his belt as president and CEO at Sprint Corp.

"You've got to put it into context of a 17-, 18-year-old kid," Forsee said in a phone interview Monday from the company's headquarters in Kansas City, Mo. "You always think about what your capabilities are, you think about what you can do, but it would be dishonest to say I suspected something even close to this."

Forsee, 52, was only in Cape Girardeau a short time, moving here in 1966 when his father became director of the local Social Security office. Forsee moved away to go to college when he graduated from high school.

Mentors in Cape

But Forsee doesn't sell his time here short.

"Growing up in my family in an environment like Cape was great," he said. "I knew what high expectations were. Our parents brought me and my siblings up that way. I also had some success in high school. I think I was named most likely to succeed and some other things."

Forsee said he also had great mentors here, from coaches to teachers to an influential group of friends that he remains close to.

"They also laid out challenges," he said. "One thing led to another and I've taken risks along the way."

Until recently, Forsee hasn't been allowed to talk to the media, even about such harmless subjects as a second hometown and close friends. Forsee has taken over at Sprint after what has been described as one of the messiest management successions in recent corporate history.

Forsee is replacing William T. Esrey, who was removed as chief executive after some questionable stock moves. Sprint's board approached Forsee, who was then the No. 2 man at BellSouth Corp., late last year. BellSouth tried to prevent Forsee from leaving, and the dispute overflowed into the courts. In March, an arbitrator allowed Forsee to take the Sprint job.

Forsee said that, while it may sound like an ugly situation, the transition has been relatively smooth.

"Let me put it into context," he said. "This is my 28th assignment in 31 years in the business. Change is something you get comfortable with. I had no expectations that I would leave BellSouth. I was well positioned there. This opportunity came about and I took it."

Now that he has the job, Forsee faces other challenges. His industry is rife with competition. There is talk of slower long-distance and local sales. Last year, the company cut 18,000 jobs in cost-cutting measures. That led to suggestions that Sprint looks like the perfect target for a takeover.

Forsee isn't worried -- or at least he says he's not.

"I worked here for 10 years before BellSouth, and the relationship is still solid," he said. "We're right on track. It couldn't have gone much better than it has. It's true that the last couple of years in the telecommunications industry has been in turmoil, but it's all in the eyes of the beholder."

'A good situation'

Rodger Chisman, director of telecommunications at Southeast Missouri State University, said that despite all the negative buzzwords that are being tossed around in the industry, he sees it as a growing industry.

"It's increasing substantially," Chisman said. "I would think that he's walking into a good situation. The demand is always increasing."

Forsee shares Chisman's optimism.

Last week, Forsee outlined his plans and priorities at a company shareholder meeting. His goals are that he wants to increase revenue, improve customer service and satisfaction, develop a culture of winning at Sprint, and increase the strength of the Sprint brand.

"As the 54th-largest company in the Fortune 500, we have scope, name recognition and market presence," Forsee said. "Selling into our existing base of PSC, local and long-distance customers is a powerful recipe for revenue growth."

As far as a corporate takeover, Forsee doesn't believe those rumors.

"All of those consolidation rumors and discussions, that's what investment bankers and in some cases journalists get to think about," he said. "But I know it wasn't billed to me as a case of 'come in and get the company fixed up to be in a good position for consolidation.' Sprint is on very solid footing."

smoyers@semissourian.com

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