CenturyLink CFO Sunit Patel is leaving the telecom provider to join T-Mobile US where he will be the company’s executive vice president, merger and integration lead. Patel will join T-Mobile October 1 and will report to T-Mobile President and COO Mike Sievert.

In his new role, Patel will oversee T-Mobile’s strategy planning and its planned integration with Sprint. T-Mobile announced in April that it was purchasing Sprint in an all-stock deal. The merger, which is intended to create a 5G powerhouse, is now undergoing necessary regulatory and SEC reviews. It is expected to close in the first half of 2019.

As CFO at CenturyLink Patel helped with that company’s integration with Level 3, which it acquired in 2017. Before the acquisition, he worked as CFO for Level 3 for more than 14 years.  During his time with Level 3, he handled several large acquisitions including Level 3’s purchase of Global Crossing and internet provider tw telecom.

While at Level 3, Patel crossed paths with T-Mobile CEO John Legere. Before becoming T-Mobile’s top dog, Legere was CEO at Global Crossing until it was acquired in 2011.

In the aftermath of CenturyLink’s integration with Level 3, the company cut 2 percent of its workforce or about 1,000 jobs. T-Mobile executives, however, have said that they will increase headcount while at the same time they plan to realize $6 billion in cost synergies.