Christian Hillabrant’s experience and focused vision are poised to guide Crown Castle into its next era of innovation and leadership in the communications infrastructure industry as a pure-play tower company. Crown Castle lured him away from Vantage Towers with an $800,000 signing bonus and a $1 million salary. An SEC filing says that he could earn up to $14 million in his first year.
Crown Castle Inc. has announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Christian Hillabrant, 59, as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective September 15, 2025. Hillabrant is also expected to join the Company’s Board at that time.
P. Robert Bartolo, Chair of the Crown Castle Board of Directors, said, “We are thrilled to welcome Chris as Crown Castle’s next CEO. Chris is a respected global telecommunications leader with a strong track record of driving performance. His deep industry expertise – particularly in managing tower infrastructure at scale – positions him well to lead Crown Castle into its next chapter as a pure-play U.S. tower company. Chris’s appointment marks the conclusion of a thorough search process conducted by the Board and CEO Search Committee. The Board believes that Chris is the optimal choice to drive results as we advance the Company’s strategy and build a best-in-class organization.”
An industry veteran, Hillabrant brings over three decades of experience driving profitable growth and operational excellence across leading digital infrastructure and telecommunications companies. He previously held senior management positions at T-Mobile, Ericsson AB, and Samsung, leading corporate functions spanning engineering, sales, and operations.
He later served as the COO of Tillman Infrastructure, where he steered the business through a transformational growth period – significantly expanding the company’s portfolio while simultaneously strengthening tower cash flow and reducing operational expenses. Since July of 2023, Hillabrant served as the CEO and Chairman of the Management Board at Vantage Towers AG, which manages over 86,000 communication sites across 10 countries. During his tenure, Hillabrant spearheaded a comprehensive transformation, driving operational improvements that led to substantial value creation. Vantage CFO Nicolas Mahler will be the interim-CEO in September.
“I’m honored to join Crown Castle as CEO and to lead this remarkable organization in its mission to connect communities, businesses, and people,” said Hillabrant. “I’m energized by the opportunities ahead for Crown Castle as a focused, pure-play U.S. tower company, and am fully aligned with the long-term strategy and capital allocation framework laid out in March. I look forward to working alongside the Board and leadership team to oversee the continued successful execution of this strategy and drive enhanced value for our shareholders.”
Hillabrant to earn over $14 million in first year
Hillabrant is walking into the job with a hefty pay package.
He’ll earn a base salary of $1 million (pro-rated since he’s starting late in the year), plus a $800,000 signing bonus just for coming on board—so long as he sticks around for at least a year.
Hillabrant will also receive $12.25 million in stock awards in 2025. That includes long-term performance-based shares and a one-time $7 million “make-whole” grant to cover what he gave up leaving his last job.
After less than a year as Crown Castle’s CEO, Steven Moskowitz was sent packing in March by Crown Castle’s Board of Directors. His base salary was $900,00 per year. It is unknown what his severance package was, if any.
He’s also eligible for an annual bonus worth up to $2 million, depending on company performance, and will get relocation assistance to move to Crown Castle’s headquarters from Düsseldorf, Germany.
If he’s fired without cause or quits for good reason, Hillabrant will walk away with two years’ salary and bonus (around $4 million), continued health coverage, and he’ll keep vesting in his stock awards. He’s also barred from working for a competitor in the U.S. tower or fiber space for one year after leaving the company.
Schlanger will stay at the helm until September
Dan Schlanger will continue to serve as the Company’s Interim President and CEO until Hillabrant joins the Company and will work closely with him to ensure a seamless transition. As previously announced, effective on Hillabrant’s start date, the Board is expected to appoint him to the role of Executive Vice President and Chief Transformation Officer, responsible for overseeing the completion of the Company’s sale of its small cells and fiber solutions businesses, which is expected to close in the first half of 2026.
Bartolo added, “On behalf of the Board, I want to express our gratitude to Dan for serving as Interim CEO through this period of transition. Under his leadership, the Company has delivered strong financial results and made meaningful progress toward completing the sale of its small cells and fiber solutions businesses. We look forward to continuing to benefit from his expertise as the Company’s Chief Transformation Officer.”
Schlanger said, “I look forward to welcoming Chris to Crown Castle and am excited for him to bring a fresh perspective to help the Company become a best-in-class operator of U.S. towers. As Chief Transformation Officer, I will ensure a smooth leadership transition while continuing to focus on closing our sale transaction as efficiently as possible.”
