John (Jack) Rooney, president and CEO of U.S. Cellular, announced today that he will retire in 2010.

Rooney, 67, joined U.S. Cellular as president and CEO in 2000. During his 10 years of leadership, the company grew into the sixth-largest wireless provider in the United States, with more than 6 million customers.

“I am extremely proud of U.S. Cellular’s success, which is driven by the customer-centric culture that we have all built together over the last decade,” Rooney said in a statement. “… I have great faith in the company’s leaders and associates, and I am confident that they will guide U.S. Cellular forward, while maintaining the customer focus that makes our company unique.”

Rooney is credited for unifying U.S. Cellular’s associates around a common focus: the customer. The company sees its culture, called the Dynamic Organization, as a significant competitive advantage, which includes 8,700 associates.

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.

Executive recruiting firm Spencer Stuart is currently conducting a search for Rooney’s replacement.

 

U.S. Cellular is a subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems.