Thomas A. Gerke

Biography

 Mr. Thomas A. Gerke, also known as Tom, has been Interim President and Interim Chief Executive Officer at H&R Block, Inc since August 1, 2017. Mr. Gerke has been the Chief Administrative Officer at H&R Block, Inc since May 2016 and has been its General Counsel since January 2012. Mr. Gerke served as Chief Legal Officer of H&R Block, Inc. since January 2012 until April 2016 and served as its Senior Vice President since January 3, 2012 until April 2016. Mr. Gerke served as an Executive Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel of YRC Worldwide Inc. since January 3, 2011. He served as the Chief Executive Officer and the President of Embarq Corp. since March 3, 2008. He served as an Interim Chief Executive Officer and Interim President of Embarq Corp. from December 18, 2007 to March 2008 and as its General Counsel for Law and External Affairs from May 2006 to December 2007, had additional responsibility for its Wholesale Markets business unit. He was responsible for the oversight of EMBARQ's legal and governmental affairs initiatives, corporate governance and legal support to its Board of Directors. He served as the Head of Regulatory & Governmental Affairs and Human Resources at CenturyLink, Inc. He served as an Executive Vice President of External Affairs and General Counsel of Sprint Corporation (formerly, Sprint Nextel Corp). from May 13, 2003 to August 2005, Vice President of Law, General Business and Technology since 1999, Assistant Vice President of Corporate Transactions since 1998 and Assistant Vice President of Law, Mergers and Acquisitions. He also served as an Executive Vice President of External Affairs and General Counsel of Sprint Corp. FON Group since May 13, 2003 and Vice President of GMG, Business Development of the Global Markets Division since June 2002. From September 2000 to June 2002, he served as Vice President, Corporate Secretary and Associate General Counsel of Sprint. He served in Local Telecommunications Division of Sprint Corporation (formerly, Sprint Nextel Corp) from August 2005 to May 2006. He served as Vice President, Corporate Secretary and Associate General Counsel of Horizon PCS Inc. He joined Sprint in October 1994 as a Senior Attorney. He was a Partner with the law firm of Smith, Gill, Fisher & Butts in Kansas City. He served as an Executive Vice Chairman and Director of CenturyLink, Inc. from July 2009 to April 1, 2011. He has been Director of TEGP Management, LLC since August 2015. He has been an Independent Director of Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc. since February 21, 2013. He served as a Director of Sprint Capital Corporation. He served as a Director of Embarq Corp. since March 3, 2008. He received his Juris Doctor from the University Of Missouri School of Law. Mr. Gerke holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Missouri at Columbia and a Master's degree in Business Administration from Rockhurst College in Kansas City, Missouri.

Research Interest

 Business and Management