Sprint Nextel CEO Dan Hesse shuffled senior management, replacing...

acting CFO; John Garcia, product development and management senior vice president, becomes acting CMO; and Paget Alves, regional president for sales and distribution, becomes acting president for the division. “Permanent leaders will be named in conjunction with a review of overall strategy and an effort to streamline operations,” Hesse said. “I have no predetermined timeframe in filling these positions but plan to act as quickly as possible as I consider both internal and external candidates.” The moves are simply about getting “new blood” into a struggling company, said Moody’s analyst Dennis Saputo in an interview. All were capable, but Sprint likely determined the three officials’ operations weren’t meeting expectations, he said. After ex-Nextel officials Saleh and Angelino’s exit, the balance of merged senior management now tilts in Sprint’s direction, he said. Hesse likely is replacing Saleh and Kelly because of their close ties to ex-CEO Gary Forsee, said Pali Research analyst Walter Piecyk in an interview. Kelly in particular did a “poor job,” but Forsee was protecting his position, he said. Angelino’s exit wasn’t necessary, but Hesse should have forced out officials in charge of handsets and customer care, he said. The shakeup is a “step in the right direction,” but Sprint also needs to kick out some board members who are due for re-election this spring, Piecyk said, saying ex-Hallmark CEO Irvine Hockaday should be top of the list. Saputo disagreed with the call, saying the board has a “well developed” understanding of the company.