At a time when US immigration policies are under scrutiny due to President Donald Trump’s $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications, two major American corporations have appointed Indian-origin executives to top leadership roles, signaling their growing influence in global business. T-Mobile has named Srinivas “Srini” Gopalan as CEO, effective November 1, 2025, while Molson Coors Beverage Company has announced Rahul Goyal as its new CEO, starting October 1, 2025.
Srinivas Gopalan, currently Chief Operating Officer at T-Mobile, will succeed Mike Sievert, who will assume the role of Vice Chairman. Gopalan’s career spans leading positions at Unilever India, Accenture, Vodafone, Bharti Airtel, Capital One, and Deutsche Telekom Germany, where he served as CEO. An alumnus of Delhi Public School, RK Puram, and the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, Gopalan has been instrumental in driving T-Mobile’s 5G rollout, digital transformation, and customer engagement since joining as COO in March 2025. His appointment reflects a well-planned succession strategy aimed at maintaining the company’s competitive edge.
Rahul Goyal, who has been with Molson Coors since 2001, will succeed Gavin Hattersley as CEO. Goyal’s leadership experience includes serving as Global CIO, CFO in India, and Chief Strategy Officer. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from the University of Mysore and an MBA from the University of Denver, Daniels College of Business. Based in Chicago, Goyal brings deep expertise in global strategy and operations, positioning him to guide the company through evolving consumer trends and complex trade challenges in the US.
These appointments come amid controversy over the new $100,000 H-1B visa fee, which has created uncertainty for professionals and firms dependent on high-skilled immigration. Indian IT professionals, who form a large proportion of H-1B recipients, face particular uncertainty. Despite these challenges, the rise of executives like Gopalan and Goyal demonstrates how Indian-origin talent continues to shape corporate America, joining ranks with leaders such as Sundar Pichai, Satya Nadella, and Arvind Krishna.
The elevation of these leaders underscores the resilience and diversity of US corporations, highlighting the strategic advantage of international experience in top executive roles. Their appointments illustrate the ongoing contribution of skilled immigration to the success and global competitiveness of major American firms, even amid tightening immigration policies.
