FRANKFURT, June 9 (Reuters) - The head of T-Mobile U.S ( TMUS ).

, the fast-growing and profitable subsidiary of

Germany's Deutsche Telekom, is due to step aside

before the end of his current contract, German newspaper

Handelsblatt reported on Monday.

Deutsche Telekom did not immediately respond to a request

for comment on the report.

Handelsblatt reported Mike Sievert, who has headed the

mobile operator since 2020, wanted to take a break and that

Chief Operating Officer Srini Gopalan, until recently head of

Deutsche Telekom's Germany business, was a leading candidate to

succeed him.

The chief executive would step down this year or next, the

newspaper added.

Previously facing troubles, T-Mobile has become a revenue

and profit driver in recent years. Thanks to strong figures from

the U.S. mobile operator, Deutsche Telekom has raised its

earnings targets several times.

T-Mobile U.S ( TMUS ). customer growth fell short of expectations at

the beginning of the year due to an intensified price war. The

subsidiary nonetheless aims to win 5.5 to 6 million new users by

2025.

Sievert, who joined T-Mobile as marketing head in 2012, had

been due to remain in post until 2028.

(Writing by Thomas Escritt;)