T-Mobile has appointed Jon Freier as its new chief operating officer, succeeding Srini Gopalan who recently became CEO of the telecom giant. Freier, who previously served as president of the T-Mobile Consumer Group, has been with the company since his start at Western Wireless in 1994. The promotion was disclosed in a filing by the company, which has seen other leadership changes in recent months.
In another move, Alex Berezhnyy has taken on the role of chief technology officer at RentSpree, a Seattle company specializing in rental applications and lease management. Berezhnyy brings with him years of experience from Redfin and Amazon, where he held various software development positions.
Paige Johnson has left her position as Microsoft’s vice president of Education to relaunch EdCatalyst Group, a consulting business focused on using AI to help companies expand their impact. Johnson’s extensive background includes nearly two decades at Intel, where she developed a professional development program for teachers.
James Newell is now the chief financial officer at WayTrade, a renewable fuel trading company. Previously with Voyager Capital, Newell expressed excitement for the new opportunity to make a meaningful impact alongside a dedicated team.
After 15 years at Amazon Web Services, Julien Ellie has resigned from his role as senior principal engineer, citing a shift in company culture that no longer aligns with his values. Prior to Amazon, Ellie spent nearly a decade at Microsoft.
Jonathan Assayag has left his position at Amazon as general manager and director of the smart eyewear program. During his time at the tech giant, Assayag worked on innovative products that pushed the boundaries of ambient computing and AI. He expressed gratitude for the challenges and growth opportunities provided by his role.
Gravyty has named Lisa Haubenstock as its new chief customer officer, bringing her experience from Truckstop, Amazon, and Everfi to the role. Haubenstock sees the opportunity at Gravyty as a chance to tie together her previous experiences and work with a dedicated team.
Bobby Franzo is now the CEO of WatchMeGrow, taking over from John Lewison who led the company for 24 years. Franzo, the founder of PB&J TV, merged his streaming service with WatchMeGrow earlier this year, aiming to provide families with peace of mind through innovative technology.
CreateMe, a clothing manufacturer utilizing robotic assembly lines, announced two leadership changes. Nick Chope has been promoted to chief engineer and head of manufacturing, bringing his expertise in robotics and automation from companies like Microsoft and Apple. Natasha Chand, who previously led Amazon Softlines Private Label, has joined as executive advisor to CreateMe, based in Seattle.
— Lauren Weinberg is now a board advisor at Adora, a Seattle-based marketing technology startup that emerged from stealth in October. Her past roles include leadership positions at Peleton Interactive, Square, Yahoo and elsewhere.
