SAN DIEGO—Leap Wireless International Inc. reported plans to “centralize its administrative field operations, including sales, marketing and product development,” in Denver, where the carrier already houses its customer-care functions.
Leap noted that as part of the centralization process, it would relocate several information technology positions to support the field operations. The relocation is expected to impact 35 San Diego-based employees, though Leap added that many have been offered the opportunity to relocate to the company’s Denver offices. Leap said the relocations are expected to be completed by Sept. 1.
“Leap continues to move ahead with its efforts to move decision-making closer to the customer, with management in the field playing a larger role in day-to-day operations,” explained Doug Hutcheson, president and chief executive officer at Leap. “Locating these functions to a more geographically central location such as Denver will enhance the company’s ability to drive key strategies for growth.”
The carrier’s corporate functions, including accounting, business development, finance, human resources, internal audit, legal, technical operations, and non-customer facing IT positions will remain in San Diego where the company was founded after being spun off from Qualcomm Inc. in 1998.
Leap is also expected to launch service in a handful of new markets during the next six weeks, according to a Bear Stearns & Co Inc. report. Bear Stearns telecommunications analyst Phil Cusick noted that channel checks indicated Leap would launch May 2 in San Antonio, and that the carrier would launch in late May in Houston and in June in Cincinnati.
Leap picked up spectrum for those markets during the Federal Communications Commissions Auction 58 last year and Cusick said he expects Leap to launch service in nearly all of the Auction 58 markets it acquired by the end of the year. Leap had previously announced launches in El Paso, Texas; Las Cruces, N.M., and Colorado Springs, Colo.; earlier this year.
