Sprint’s Global One Fires Its Chief Executive

Sprint Corp.’s Global One international phone alliance fired its chief executive and named the head of Sprint’s long-distance business to take over amid mounting losses at the venture. Viesturs Vucins, 51, was forced out after 17 months because he failed to generate a profit at the alliance of Sprint, Deutsche Telekom and France Telecom, a person familiar with Global One said. Sprint’s Gary Forsee, 47, took over immediately. Sprint is taking a more aggressive role to help stabilize Global One, which competes in the $120-billion-a-year market to provide international companies with phone and data services. Vucins’ departure comes as the three partners had to pour more money than planned into the venture last year when they had problems combining their networks. Vucins couldn’t be reached for comment. He became CEO in September 1996 after co-founding and heading competing alliance Unisource, which includes Sprint rival AT&T; Corp. In New York Stock Exchange trading, Sprint shares fell 81 cents to $58.94; DT’s American depositary receipts fell 6 cents to $19, while France Telecom’s ADRs rose 44 cents to $47.75.