Source: tiernantech / Flickr
T-Mobile US (NYSE:TMUS) Chief Executive John Legere just got a little cooler. Known for his big personality and unfiltered mouth, the big man at T-Mobile has been lauded as one of the most exciting and unabashed CEOs, and he perpetuated that reputation on Monday night, when he attempted to crash AT&T’s (NYSE:T) party for developers in Las Vegas.
On the night before the official kickoff to the Consumer Electronics Show, Re/code reports that Legere, outfitted in his typical magenta T-Mobile logo shirt under a leather jacket, tried to work his way into a party AT&T was throwing but was — unsurprisingly — denied. AT&T, one of T-Mobile’s biggest rivals, quickly had the hotel’s security remove Legere, and he was reportedly escorted from the premises.
It’s not surprising that Legere’s presence was unwelcome at the AT&T event, as AT&T and T-Mobile are bitter competitors. Legere has been none too shy about blasting AT&T on social media, but following the event, Legere still voiced surprise that he was escorted out of the party Monday night. He told Re/code, “I just wanted to hear Macklemore.”
Later that night, in a separate interview, he told reporters he was threatened with a charge of trespassing at the party. He explained, “All of a sudden these gigantic goons said ‘Can I talk to you over here,’” per Re/code.
Leger isn’t bashful about attending strangers’ parties, and he also isn’t keen on staying strictly professional, both with his words and his actions. That’s how Legere has attracted so many loyal consumers, so he must be doing something right. The CEO is now one of the most talked-about executives on social media, especially after last night, when thousands tweeted at the T-Mobile CEO, congratulating him on the party crash.
Legere’s job isn’t all fun and games, though: the CEO still has a lot on his plate this week at CES 2014, as he must continue to maintain T-Mobile’s might in the carrier market and not allow the company to fall behind AT&T. Re/code reports that at the same time Legere was being escorted from AT&T’s party, AT&T Mobility CEO Ralph De La Vega was announcing at the Audi keynote that AT&T had won a deal to replace T-Mobile as the provider of wireless services for Audi vehicles.
T-Mobile and AT&T have long been competitors, and neither chief executive has been shy about ripping each other apart, even in the media. Legere routinely retweets tweets that attack AT&T, and when the Dallas, Texas-based company announced a promotion last week offering up to $450 in credit to T-Mobile customers willing to switch, Legere openly called it a “desperate move.”
#Randall — you gave us cash & spectrum AND we took your customers with #Uncarrier moves, do you really think you can buy them back?
— John Legere (@JohnLegere) January 3, 2014
It’ll be interesting to see how things develop at CES 2014 this week, as AT&T already leaked its “sponsored data” program and T-Mobile is expected to announce the next phase of its “Un-carrier” effort. It’s safe to say the two companies will continue to be at each other’s throats, but the important question is, will Randall Stephenson attempt to crash one of T-Mobile’s parties?
More from Wall St. Cheat Sheet:
- AT&T’s ‘Sponsored Data’ Program: Friend or Foe?
- Look Out, AT&T: T-Mobile Makes Big Spectrum Purchase From Verizon
- Will T-Mobile’s Bold Plan Spark Renewed Competition?