Randall Lynn Stephenson (born April 22, 1960) is a retired American telecommunications executive best known for serving as Chairman and CEO of AT&T Inc. from 2007 to 2020, transitioning to Executive Chairman in 2020 before fully retiring. He joined Southwestern Bell Telephone (a predecessor to AT&T) in 1982 in an entry-level IT role in Oklahoma, rising through financial and operational positions. He served as CFO of SBC Communications from 2001 to 2004, reducing net debt from $30 billion to near zero, and as COO from 2004 to 2007. During his tenure as CEO, he oversaw the company's transformation into a diversified media and telecommunications giant through major acquisitions, including DirecTV for $48.5 billion in 2015 and Time Warner for $85.4 billion in 2018, the latter facing significant antitrust scrutiny. AT&T invested heavily in wireless, 5G, and content, committing $135 billion in U.S. capital expenditures over five years and launching initiatives like AT&T Aspire ($550 million for education) and the 'It Can Wait' distracted driving campaign (over 40 million pledges). He also led diversity efforts, with AT&T topping DiversityInc's 2019 rankings. Stephenson earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Central Oklahoma and a Master of Accountancy from the University of Oklahoma. He is married to Lenise Stephenson and has two children. From 2016 to 2018, he served as the 37th National President of Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts of America), succeeding Robert Gates. Stephenson serves on boards including Walmart and was appointed by President George W. Bush to the National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee. He was the primary target of Elliott Management's 2019 activist investor campaign criticizing AT&T's strategy.