John E. Rooney was the President and Chief Executive Officer of U.S. Cellular. Upon joining U.S. Cellular as president and CEO in April 2000, John Rooney changed the company’s business strategy by focusing on complete customer satisfaction.
Rooney previously worked for Ameritech Corporation for nine years serving as president of Ameritech Consumer Services from 1997 to 1999, president of Ameritech Cellular Services from 1992 to 1997 and vice president/treasurer from 1990 to 1992. He transformed Ameritech Cellular Services’ customer base from 425,000 to 3 million customers and grew revenue from $450 million to $2.5 billion. At that time, the average customer turnover rate was at an industry standard of 28 percent annually, but with Rooney at the helm, Ameritech’s customer turnover rate fell to an unprecedented rate of under 12 percent.
Prior to Ameritech, Rooney held executive positions with Firestone Tire and Rubber Corporation; Pullman Incorporated; and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.
Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Rooney earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from John Carroll University in Ohio and an MBA in finance from Loyola University Chicago. He is a member of the board of trustees of Loyola University Chicago as well as a member of the board of advisors of the university’s School of Business Administration. In addition to serving as a member of the board of directors of U.S. Cellular Corporation, Rooney also serves on the President’s Board of Uhlich Children’s Advantage Network; the board of directors for the Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center; and the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association’s board of directors. Additionally, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley appointed Rooney to the Mayor’s Council of Technology Advisors and the board of World Business Chicago.
He was married to his wife, Germaine, for 44 years until her passing in early 2010. They have three children and nine grandchildren.
Rooney died on July 22, 2011 after suffering a stroke earlier that week.[1]