Joseph Clayton (pictured) is set to retire as president and CEO of Dish Network, US satellite broadcaster and controversial spectrum winner, to be replaced by founder and chairman Charlie Ergen.

Forty-two year industry veteran Clayton is leaving Dish’s executive suite on 31 March, 2015.

Ergen, the driving force behind Dish, will inherit Clayton’s titles, alongside his existing responsibilities.

The firm was a big winner of spectrum in the recent Federal Communications Commission auction. It participated through two “designated entities” which bid $13 billion but qualified for a $3 billion ‘small business’ discount.

Dish’s tactics, and the rules enabling it, have come under fire from one FCC commissioner and two operators, AT&T and T-Mobile US.

Clayton, who is also retiring from Dish’s board of directors, took over the top spot in June, 2011.

“Over the last four years, Joe’s leadership has been instrumental for Dish as we have worked to engineer a fundamental transformation of our business,” said Ergen in a tribute.

For his part, Clayton listed the achievements of Dish’s management team during his tenure, including the successful involvement in not one but two spectrum contests.

“We were able to launch the Hopper, dishNet, and Sling TV, navigate two spectrum auctions and deliver for our customers throughout,” he said.