Stanton named chairman of Clearwire's board

Clearwire Corp. (CLWR) replaced one wireless industry legend with another today as it announced that John Stanton would replace Craig McCaw as chairman of its board of directors. McCaw left that position at the end of last year, with Clearwire noting that the move was “not due to any disagreements with the company on any matters relating to the company’s operations, policies, or practices.”
Stanton has served as a director of Clearwire since November 2008, having joined the board through his managing director position at private investment firm Trilogy Partners L.L.C., which invested in Clearwire following the company’s reorganization in 2008.
Stanton began in the wireless industry in the early 1980s working with Craig McCaw in forming McCaw Cellular. Stanton went on to help form Western Wireless Corp. where he also served as chairman and CEO from 1992 until shortly after its $6 billion acquisition by Alltel Corp. in 2005. In addition, Stanton helped form VoiceStream Wireless Corp. serving as CEO from 1998 to 2003 and chairman of the carrier until it was acquired by German telecom giant Deutsche Telekom AG for $35 billion in 2003.
Earlier this month Clearwire’s board appointed Benjamin Wolff to replace McCaw on the carrier’s board. Wolff is currently chairman, CEO and president of ICO Global Communications and president of Eagle River Holdings, which has invested in Clearwire. Wolff also previously served as co-chairman of Clearwire from March 2009 to February 2010.