OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), January 24, 2017 - Today, Sprint (NYSE: S) named Néstor Cano, 52, to the newly created position of chief operating officer. Cano will be responsible for delivering operational excellence, driving further expense reductions, and strengthening systems and processes across the business.

Cano’s appointment is effective Feb. 2, and he will report to Sprint President and CEO Marcelo Claure.

“I’m so proud of the progress Sprint made in 2016, and now it’s time to accelerate our turnaround with operational excellence and superior execution,” said Claure. “Néstor is a proven transformation leader with an incredible work ethic. His experience running low-margin businesses with low operating expenses will help Sprint continue its transformation and improve execution at all levels of the organization.”

Cano is a strong and dynamic leader with extensive experience in the distribution and technology industry, previously serving in roles in sales, procurement, pricing, operations and IT. Most recently, he was president of European Operations at Tech Data, one of the world’s largest distributors of IT products and services. Cano also held other senior executive roles at the company where he fixed management processes and controls to drive the best-ever profit in the company’s European operations.

“Sprint has already undergone tremendous change and has seen great improvement under Marcelo’s leadership,” Cano said, “and I am excited to join Sprint at this critical time in the company’s turnaround. I am committed to driving focused execution of Sprint’s strategic plan to ensure Sprint remains a strong and relevant competitor in the wireless industry.”

Before joining Tech Data, Cano held positions with technology companies in Spain, including Tronik and CCR Informatica. Cano will relocate to the Kansas City area with his family.