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Verizon apparently planning a change no one saw coming

Verizon CEO Dan Schulman might soon surprise everyone.

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By Anam Hamid

Updated: Feb 02, 2026, 11:00 PM

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Verizon CEO Dan Schulman wants to replace Sowmyanarayan Sampath

Verizon Dallas | Image Credit - Verizon

Verizon may have delivered its best quarter in a long time under Dan Schulman, but the new CEO is reportedly planning to take another drastic measure to make his mark on the company. Schulman is "not afraid" to "make really hard decisions," and his next move could cost consumer division head Sowmyanarayan Sampath his job.

Wrong time

Q4 was Verizon's first good quarter in 2025 in terms of postpaid subscriber additions. It will only become clear whether that was enough to maintain its lead when T-Mobile reports its Q4 results on February 11. Schulman is not waiting around and twiddling his thumbs to plan the next step of his strategy.

The new CEO is reportedly looking for a replacement for Sampath, who should have been the natural successor to Hans Vestberg, Verizon's former CEO. Far from passing the torch to him, Schulman is seemingly restructuring his leadership team and looking for someone who might be better suited to be CEO.

While Sampath’s future at Verizon hangs in the balance, his ouster isn't guaranteed. He has already started receiving job offers, but hasn't devised an exit plan.

The report implies that despite Schulman's efforts, which included laying off 13,000 people and cutting costs, Verizon continues to be eclipsed by AT&T and T-Mobile, which explains why he wants to remove Sampath.

However, Verizon's problems started long before Sampath became CEO of the consumer group in 2023. He stepped into the leadership role when the company was going through a tough phase, and played his part in putting the company back on track.

[Sampath had] stepped into the head of consumer role at a low point for company performance and righted the ship.

David Barden, partner at New Street Research, January 2026

A derailing move

Instead of having a well-thought-out succession plan, Verizon seems to be winging it. The lack of planning may backfire, considering Verizon already has a lot on its plate. Although Q4 was the company's best quarter since 2019 in terms of customer growth, it came at the expense of financial performance.

Schulman has a 27-month contract, and while it may be extended, he was never appointed for the long haul. The company's next CEO could be more crucial for its long-term trajectory, but Verizon's lack of confidence in the upper echelons is not a good sign.

Will Sampath's departure prove to be good for Verizon?

Fortune favors the bold

Schulman's limited time at Verizon means he not only has to restore the carrier to its previous glory, but also ensure he leaves it in the right hands. While it's not clear why he doesn't think Sampath can be the person, Schulman seems to have a clear vision for the company that he won't shy away from executing.

During the Q4 earnings call, the CEO hinted at a new value proposition and steady prices.

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Anam Hamid is a computer scientist turned tech journalist who has a keen interest in the tech world, with a particular focus on smartphones and tablets. She has previously written for Android Headlines and has also been a ghostwriter for several tech and car publications. Anam is not a tech hoarder and believes in using her gadgets for as long as possible. She is concerned about smartphone addiction and its impact on future generations, but she also appreciates the convenience that phones have brought into our lives. Anam is excited about technological advancements like folding screens and under-display sensors, and she often wonders about the future of technology. She values the overall experience of a device more than its individual specs and admires companies that deliver durable, high-quality products. In her free time, Anam enjoys reading, scrolling through Reddit and Instagram, and occasionally refreshing her programming skills through tutorials.

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