Daniel Mead starts shooting black-and-white commercials for Verizon Wireless

Throughout late 2008 and into 2009, Hesse starred in a series of highly polished, black-and-white TV advertisements for Sprint Nextel (NYSE:S) in an attempt to humanize the company and explain its value. The company decided to drop the campaign in March 2009, although Hesse has appeared in newer color commercials.

The CEO as pitchman is not exactly a new concept, but Hesse cornered the market with his classy, black-and-white appearances.

If incoming Verizon Wireless (NYSE:VZ) CEO Dan Mead started appearing in similar spots for Big Red, would Hesse's matinee status come under pressure? How could he reclaim his mantle?