Company
Press Release:
IAN LIVINGSTON TO SUCCEED BEN
VERWAAYEN AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF BT
April 8, 2008: Ian Livingston, who is currently
chief executive of BT Retail, is to succeed Ben Verwaayen
as chief executive of BT Group on June 1st 2008. Ben will step down
as CEO on 31 May 2008, and will leave the board on June 30.Ben Verwaayen will leave BT after more than six years during
which he has led the transformation of the company.
BT Chairman Sir Mike Rake paid tribute to
him: “Ben has been an exceptional CEO whose courage and leadership has
transformed BT from being a deeply troubled organisation
into a thriving business with global capability and a clear strategy for the
future. The board has been involved in the process of transition for many
months to ensure an orderly succession. Ben has done more than anyone else to
make
Ben joined BT in January 2002 from Lucent
Technologies where he was Vice-Chairman of the management board. He led
BT’s aggressive expansion into broadband which has given the
Commenting on his time at BT Ben said:
“I have had six exciting years and I am extremely proud of the people in
BT. Without them the company’s recent success would not have been
possible. I owe a particular debt of gratitude to the executive directors who
have served alongside me on the Board. Francois Barrault
and Hanif Lalani have made
a magnificent contribution. They are outstanding leaders. Ian Livingston will
lead the company from strength to strength when he takes over as CEO in June.
He is a great guy with a fantastic record of business achievement.”
Ian Livingston joined BT as group finance
director in 2002. He took over as chief executive of BT Retail in 2005. Under
his leadership BT Retail has returned to growth and sharply increased
profitability.
Sir Mike Rake said of him: “Ian was
the board’s unanimous choice to succeed Ben in June. His record of achievement
at BT and before that at Dixons is outstanding. He
has a deep understanding of BT having served as both group finance director and
CEO of BT Retail. He will continue to deliver on a proven strategy. We share a
vision of the future for BT as the leading communications services company both
in the
Ian Livingston said: “Ben has
been a tremendous CEO. He has changed BT through his passion and leadership.
His informality and approachable style have won him the admiration and respect
of everyone in the business. BT is a great company with a strong history and an
even more exciting future. I am very proud to have been chosen as its next
CEO.”
Ian Livingston’s current role will be
filled by Gavin Patterson, currently group managing director of BT’s
consumer division. Gavin will become CEO of BT Retail joining the BT board on
June 1.
About BT
BT is one of the world’s
leading providers of communications solutions and services operating in 170
countries. Its principal activities include networked IT services; local,
national and international telecommunications services; higher-value broadband
and internet products and services and converged fixed/mobile products and
services. BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global
Services, Openreach, BT Retail and BT Wholesale.
In the year ended 31 March 2007, BT
Group plc’s revenue was £20,223 million with profit before taxation of
£2,484 million.
British Telecommunications plc (BT)
is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group and encompasses virtually all
businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on stock
exchanges in
For more information, visit www.bt.com/aboutbt
About BT
Telecom India Pvt Ltd
BT Telecom India Pvt.
Ltd. is a subsidiary of BT Group plc, a global leader in networked IT services.
BT Telecom India Pvt Ltd was established pursuant to
a joint venture agreement with Jubilant Enpro Pvt. Ltd., a New Delhi-based company engaged in the
businesses of oil and gas, food and services in December, 2006. In
February 2007, BT was granted international long distance and national long
distance license by the Department of Telecommunications, Government of India.
These licenses enable BT to offer services for the first time directly to
multi-site corporate customers in
BT currently employs 20,000 people - directly and indirectly, in