AT&T's Pascal Desroches is retiring as CFO after more than five years in the role and nearly four decades in finance. He will close the AT&T chapter on Dec. 31. Jennifer Biry, a longtime AT&T finance executive and most recently CFO and COO of McAfee, will succeed him on Jan. 1, 2027.
Desroches has spent his career thinking of his professional life as a series of chapters. Each chapter, he says, was shaped "by change, challenge, and the opportunity to help navigate moments that mattered."
Pascal Desroches Reflects on a Nearly 40-Year Finance Career
Desroches stepped into the CFO role in 2021, during one of the most consequential periods for the company. He described his approach to the job as a series of chapters, each defined by change and the chance to help navigate important moments.
His retirement marks the end of a finance career that spanned nearly four decades. More than five of those years were spent leading AT&T's finance function as CFO.
Jennifer Biry Named as Successor
Jennifer Biry will take over as CFO on Jan. 1, 2027. She is a longtime AT&T finance executive and was most recently CFO and COO of McAfee. Biry was named deputy CFO in July, setting up the succession.
Her appointment follows a broader trend. There has been a wave of CFO transitions at Fortune 500 companies this year.
Our Take: A Planned Handover at AT&T
In our view, this is a clean and well-planned leadership change. AT&T gave itself time by naming Biry deputy CFO in July, months before Desroches steps down. That is the right way to handle a key finance role — no sudden gaps, no scramble.
Desroches leaves after nearly 40 years in finance, with more than five of them as AT&T's CFO. For readers who follow the company, the main thing to watch is how Biry settles into the job. She already knows AT&T's finance operations, and her time at McAfee adds outside experience. To put it plainly, the transition looks steady on paper. The real test will be the results she delivers in the role.
