Ralph de la Vega is President and CEO of AT&T Mobility, a position he has held since 2007. He is responsible for the company's largest growth engine. Today, AT&T is the leading smartphone provider and has expanded into areas such as home security and automation; connected cars; and mobile payments. Mr. de la Vega started his career in 1974 with BellSouth (then Southern Bell) as a management assistant. He has held numerous positions of increasing responsibility in Network Planning, Consumer Services, Engineering and Operations — including a rotational assignment at Telcordia (Bellcore) — and was responsible for all BellSouth Telecommunications Network Operations in Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.
Mr. de la Vega serves on the boards of New York Life Insurance Company, the Georgia Aquarium, Morehouse College and the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. He is extensively involved in nonprofit and community organizations, serving as chairman of Junior Achievement Worldwide and chairman of All-Markets Initiatives for the Boy Scouts of America. In 2013, he was honored with the Boy Scouts’ highest commendation - the Silver Buffalo Award – recognizing his distinguished service to youth. Mr. de la Vega is currently ranked number 14 on Global Telecoms Business 2013 Power 100 list. He was selected Executive of the Year by the Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting and has been listed as one of America’s “50 Most Important Hispanics in Technology and Business.”
Mr. de la Vega has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and a master’s degree in business administration from Northern Illinois University. He completed the Executive Program at the University of Virginia and received an honorary doctorate from FAU.
He is the author of the best-selling book Obstacles Welcome: Turn Adversity to Advantage in Business and Life (Thomas Nelson, 2009). A native of Cuba, Mr. de la Vega and his family live in Atlanta, GA. |