Organisation and senior management changes at BT

Jul 28, 2017 07:12 BST

• Marc Allera appointed CEO of combined BT Consumer business
• Cathryn Ross, Chief Executive of Ofwat, appointed new Director of Regulatory Affairs

BT Group today announced organisational changes to simplify its operating model, strengthen accountabilities and accelerate its transformation.

Marc Allera, currently CEO of the EE business acquired last year by BT, is appointed to lead a newly created Consumer business, bringing together BT’s Consumer and EE businesses. The new Consumer business will operate across three distinct brands – BT, EE and Plusnet – and will span fixed and mobile networks, consumer products and services, and content.

Gavin Patterson, BT Group Chief Executive, said:

“This appointment reflects the growing scale and ambition of BT. Marc has led the successful integration and delivered the improved customer experience and strong financial performance of EE. He will lead our continued integration and convergence in consumer telecommunications.”

“Together, our senior management team will ensure that BT realises its full potential: connecting customers in the UK and beyond to next-generation digital communications services, content and networks.”

This appointment will be effective September 1, 2017.

After almost four years as CEO of BT Consumer, and 13 years in BT, John Petter has announced he is stepping down to pursue roles outside the Group.

Gavin Patterson said:

“I’d like to record my sincere thanks to John for all he has done for BT over a number of years. Most recently as CEO of BT Consumer where he has overseen our rapid expansion in the Consumer market-place. I wish him all the very best for the future.”

As part of the Group’s continued transformation, BT has also announced the appointment of Cathryn Ross, currently Chief Executive of Ofwat, the water sector regulator in England and Wales, as its new Director of Regulatory Affairs.

Gavin Patterson said:

“We are delighted Cathryn has agreed to join BT. She will bring huge experience relevant to our business, and will work closely with me on developing our regulatory strategy and overseeing our relationship with Ofcom.”

Her appointment follows the decision of Sean Williams, Chief Strategy Officer, BT Group, to leave BT to pursue new opportunities outside the Group.

“Sean has made a major contribution to BT’s continued strategic effectiveness in recent years, ensuring we secured regulatory approval for both the EE acquisition and the settlement with Ofcom over the future of Openreach,” said Gavin Patterson. “I would like to thank him for his hard work.”

Cathryn Ross is expected to take up her role in January 2018.

Biographies

Marc Allera

Marc Allera will become CEO of BT’s new combined Consumer division on September 1, 2017. The division will operate across our three distinct brands; BT, EE and Plusnet, spanning fixed and mobile networks, consumer products and services, as well as content.

Marc is currently CEO of EE, the UK’s leading mobile phone company, having taken the role in January 2016.

Before that Marc was the Chief Commercial Officer for EE having joined in December 2011 from Three UK, where over a ten year period he held a number of senior positions including Chief Commercial Officer and Sales & Marketing Director. He is credited as a key force behind Three’s growth from start-up to a major player in the UK mobile market.

Prior to joining Three’s parent company Hutchison Whampoa in 2001, Marc spent a number of years in the video game industry where he was General Manager of Sega UK.

Cathryn Ross

Cathryn Ross will become BT’s new Director of Regulatory Affairs in January 2018, with responsibility for developing the company’s regulatory strategy and its relations with Ofcom and other regulatory bodies.

Cathryn is currently Chief Executive of Ofwat, the independent economic regulator for the water and waste water sector in England and Wales, where she is responsible for holding the £120 billion industry to account. She returned to Ofwat in October 2013, having previously been Executive Director of Markets and Economics between 2008 and 2011.

Cathryn is an experienced regulatory and competition economist and has worked across a number of different sectors advising on economic, regulatory and competition issues. Prior to Ofwat, Cathryn was Executive Director of Markets and Economics at the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR). She has also worked at the Competition Commission (now Competition and Markets Authority).