T-Mobile Appoints Long-Time Employee Jon Freier as New COO Amid Leadership Changes

In a significant leadership transition at T-Mobile, Jon Freier has been appointed as the company’s new chief operating officer, succeeding Srini Gopalan, who recently stepped into the CEO role. Freier’s promotion represents both continuity and evolution for the Bellevue-based telecommunications giant, as his history with the company spans nearly three decades. Beginning his professional journey at just 19 years old with Western Wireless in 1994, Freier has witnessed the company’s transformation into T-Mobile after Deutsche Telekom’s acquisition in 2001. Most recently, he served as president of the T-Mobile Consumer Group, a position he held since 2021. This leadership change is part of broader executive reshuffling at T-Mobile in recent months, including expanded responsibilities for its chief technologist and the departure of several senior executives, including its chief communications and corporate responsibility officer and business group president.

The tech industry continues to see significant leadership movement beyond T-Mobile, with RentSpree, a Seattle-based rental application and screening process company, welcoming Alex Berezhnyy as its new chief technology officer. Berezhnyy brings impressive credentials to the role, having spent more than a decade at Redfin, where he rose to vice president of engineering. Prior to that, he held various software development manager positions at Amazon, working on retail systems and Kindle education projects. RentSpree highlighted Berezhnyy’s “deep technical expertise, track record of building strong teams, and bold vision for how AI will shape the future of renting” in their announcement. His appointment represents RentSpree’s commitment to technological innovation in the real estate services sector as they continue developing tools for managing lease documents and payments.

The education technology sector is also experiencing leadership transitions, with Paige Johnson departing her role as Microsoft’s vice president of Education to relaunch EdCatalyst Group, her Oregon-based consulting business. Johnson’s consultancy focuses on helping companies, nonprofits, and public organizations leverage AI to expand their impact. Reflecting on her time at Microsoft, Johnson shared, “My years at Microsoft were an extraordinary chapter. I learned so much about how AI is reshaping industries — from education and media to public sector and financial services.” Her extensive background includes nearly two decades at Intel, where she created and scaled a professional development program that trained millions of teachers worldwide, highlighting her long-standing commitment to educational innovation and technology.

In the renewable energy sector, James Newell has taken on the role of chief financial officer at WayTrade, a commodity trading company focused on renewable fuels including sustainable aviation fuel. Newell, who will work remotely from Seattle, previously served as a general partner with Voyager Capital, where he invested in early-stage companies throughout the Pacific Northwest. His move to WayTrade represents a shift from venture capital to direct involvement in the growing renewable fuels industry. “I found the perfect opportunity to make a meaningful impact at a company that itself makes a meaningful impact, and I get to do so alongside incredible people,” Newell explained on LinkedIn, underscoring his enthusiasm for joining a company aligned with sustainability goals and environmental priorities.

Amazon continues to experience notable departures, with Julien Ellie resigning from his position as senior principal engineer at Amazon Web Services after 15 years with the company. In his departure announcement, Ellie expressed concerns about cultural shifts within the organization, stating, “From where I sit, process has taken precedence over customers, and rules have replaced high judgment. The culture has shifted from high trust to low trust, and from impact-driven to ‘who you know.’ That doesn’t align with the builder mindset that brought me here.” Similarly, Jonathan Assayag has left his role as general manager and director of Amazon’s smart eyewear program after more than nine years with the company, where he worked on innovative products like Echo Frames and Smart Delivery Glasses. Reflecting on his experience, Assayag noted, “These were true zero-to-one efforts that pushed ambient computing, Voice AI, and AI-assisted workflows into new territory. They challenged me both as a builder and a leader, sharpening how I think, make decisions, and drive impact.”

Several other significant leadership changes are reshaping companies across various industries. Seattle-based Gravyty, which facilitates alumni donations and higher education student engagement, has appointed Lisa Haubenstock as its new chief customer officer. Haubenstock joins from shipping logistics company Truckstop and brings experience from Amazon and education company Everfi. WatchMeGrow, a Lacey, Washington-based company providing camera and live video streaming services for childcare, pet-care, and senior-care facilities, has named Bobby Franzo as its new CEO. Franzo, founder of PB&J TV (Peanut Butter and Jelly TV), succeeds John Lewison, who led WatchMeGrow for 24 years and will continue as a board member and advisor. California-based clothing manufacturer CreateMe, which utilizes robotic assembly lines, has promoted Portland-based Nick Chope to chief engineer and head of manufacturing, while Seattle’s Natasha Chand, formerly the global CEO of Amazon Softlines Private Label, joins as executive advisor. Additionally, Lauren Weinberg has taken on a board advisor role at Adora, a Seattle-based marketing technology startup that recently emerged from stealth, bringing her experience from leadership positions at Peloton Interactive, Square, and Yahoo to the growing company.