SBC, once again proving that it is one of the canniest companies in the world is likely to switch its name to AT&T once the deal closes. AT&T is a bigger, and perhaps a better loved brand than SBC, at least in People’s Republic of California. Business Week reports that Ed Whitacre will ride into the sunset, while Randall Stephenson is going to take over.
While not as dramatic, Whitacre leaving is the bigger story. He is certainly one of the most important figures in the last 20 years of telecom.