Jeff McElfresh Will Oversee AT&T’s 5G Network Transition

Two of AT&T’s top executives are swapping jobs. Jeff McElfresh is now the president of AT&T Technology and Operations where he will oversee the company’s transition to 5G and the virtualization of its network. McElfresh previously was the CEO of Vrio, the AT&T subsidiary in Latin America that sells DirecTV services to South American countries. Melissa Arnoldi, who previously oversaw the company’s technology and operations group, will now be the CEO of Vrio. According to an AT&T spokeswoman, the two executives essentially swapped jobs. There are no other personnel changes to the two organizations. In this role, McElfresh will not only oversee the 5G deployment and the network virtualization, he will also be in charge of AT&T’s software development, its network and cybersecurity operations, its intellectual property group, AT&T Labs and Foundries, and the five innovation centers that AT&T opened around the globe to create new technologies and develop new products. McElfresh spent more than 21 years at AT&T. Before becoming CEO of Vrio, he worked for AT&T’s emerging devices group and was VP and general manager of AT&T Mobility. He also was chief of staff to the COO during the Cingular and AT&T Wireless merger integration in 2004. McElfresh will report to John Donovan, CEO of AT&T Communications. AT&T has said it plans to launch mobile 5G service in a dozen markets this year. The company is deliberately launching both in mid-size and large markets. It’s revealed some of those markets, including Atlanta, Georgia; Dallas and Waco, Texas; Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina, and Oklahoma City.