Pascal Desroches
Summary
Pascal Desroches has served as AT&T’s senior executive vice president and CFO since April 2021, after joining the company in 2020. ([sec.gov](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/732717/000073271722000015/t-20211231.htm?utm_source=openai))
Biography
Desroches oversees AT&T’s financial planning, accounting, tax, auditing, treasury, investor relations, corporate development, and corporate real-estate functions. Before becoming CFO, he was AT&T’s executive vice president of finance and previously served as WarnerMedia’s CFO. ([investors.att.com](https://investors.att.com/corporate-governance/leadership?source=esszspspr00gensem&wtextndsource=20210401153355_attnews_twitter_corp+comm_n%2Fa_evergreen_pr+support_inc_20210401_organic_newsroom+article_n%2Fa_n%2Fa_n%2Fa_newsroom+clickthrough_yes_attnews_tw_)) Earlier in his career, Desroches was CFO and global controller of Turner and held senior financial roles at Time Warner. He was also a partner at KPMG and served as a professional accounting fellow in the SEC’s Office of the Chief Accountant. He earned an accounting degree from St. John’s University and an M.B.A. from Columbia University. ([investors.att.com](https://investors.att.com/corporate-governance/leadership?source=esszspspr00gensem&wtextndsource=20210401153355_attnews_twitter_corp+comm_n%2Fa_evergreen_pr+support_inc_20210401_organic_newsroom+article_n%2Fa_n%2Fa_n%2Fa_newsroom+clickthrough_yes_attnews_tw_))
Notable achievements
- Helped execute AT&T’s balance-sheet reset after the WarnerMedia transaction, including using transaction proceeds to reduce debt. ([cfobrew.com](https://www.cfobrew.com/stories/2022/09/13/coworking-pascal-desroches-att?utm_source=openai))
- Oversaw a major cost-transformation program intended to improve efficiency and simplify the company’s operating structure. ([investors.att.com](https://investors.att.com/corporate-governance/leadership?source=esszspspr00gensem&wtextndsource=20210401153355_attnews_twitter_corp+comm_n%2Fa_evergreen_pr+support_inc_20210401_organic_newsroom+article_n%2Fa_n%2Fa_n%2Fa_newsroom+clickthrough_yes_attnews_tw_))
- Supported continued high levels of investment in AT&T’s 5G and fiber networks while managing leverage and free-cash-flow targets. ([investors.att.com](https://investors.att.com/corporate-governance/leadership?source=esszspspr00gensem&wtextndsource=20210401153355_attnews_twitter_corp+comm_n%2Fa_evergreen_pr+support_inc_20210401_organic_newsroom+article_n%2Fa_n%2Fa_n%2Fa_newsroom+clickthrough_yes_attnews_tw_))
- Helped manage the company’s capital-allocation plan, including debt reduction, the reset of the dividend to reflect a smaller connectivity-focused company, and investment in core network assets. ([about.att.com](https://about.att.com/ecms/dam/snrdocs/IR/ATT_Provides_Update_Strategy_Financial_Outlook.pdf?utm_source=openai))
- Provided financial oversight during the separation of WarnerMedia and the completion of AT&T’s sale of its remaining DIRECTV stake. ([forbes.com](https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackmccullough/2025/02/17/att-cfo-pascal-desroches-on-leadership-strategy--growth/?utm_source=openai))
Problem areas / controversies
- The dividend reduction associated with AT&T’s WarnerMedia separation was widely viewed as difficult for income-oriented shareholders, even though management presented it as part of the company’s deleveraging plan. ([forbes.com](https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackmccullough/2025/02/17/att-cfo-pascal-desroches-on-leadership-strategy--growth/?utm_source=openai))
- Desroches inherited a highly leveraged balance sheet shaped by AT&T’s earlier acquisitions, making debt reduction and capital discipline central—and ongoing—financial challenges. ([cfobrew.com](https://www.cfobrew.com/stories/2022/09/13/coworking-pascal-desroches-att?utm_source=openai))
- The need to divest WarnerMedia and DIRECTV meant that AT&T’s earlier media strategy had not produced the durable business combination originally envisioned; Desroches was involved in managing the financial consequences rather than originating all of those decisions. ([about.att.com](https://about.att.com/ecms/dam/snrdocs/IR/ATT_Provides_Update_Strategy_Financial_Outlook.pdf?utm_source=openai))
- No major personal misconduct or regulatory controversy involving Desroches was identified in the company filings and reputable coverage reviewed; the principal criticisms have concerned AT&T’s financial strategy, leverage, and dividend policy. ([investors.att.com](https://investors.att.com/corporate-governance/leadership?source=esszspspr00gensem&wtextndsource=20210401153355_attnews_twitter_corp+comm_n%2Fa_evergreen_pr+support_inc_20210401_organic_newsroom+article_n%2Fa_n%2Fa_n%2Fa_newsroom+clickthrough_yes_attnews_tw_))