Kirkby, who has been a non-executive director at BT since 2019, will assume the role of CEO at the end of January 2024
Allison Kirkby, the current chief executive of Swedish telecoms company Telia, will leave her post to assume the role of BT’s first female chief executive at the end of January 2024.
Kirkby has been a non-executive director at BT since 2019. “Having been a member of the BT group board for the past four years, I’m fully supportive of our strategy and am excited about leading it into its next phase of development, as we grow to support customers, shareholders and the UK economy,” she commented.
She began her career in telecom in 2010 with Virgin Media before moving on to CEO positions at TDC and Tele2 Group prior to her time at Telia.
Earlier this month, it was confirmed that BT CEO Philip Jansen will be departing. He has held the role of CEO since February 2019, and over the past few years has navigated the company through a heightened focus on fiber and the establishment of a spin-off of its sports broadcaster into a joint venture with Warner Bros Discovery. During his time at BT Group, the company also announced plans to cut up to 55,000 jobs — more than 40% of its workforce by 2030. Jansen told press that the company is looking become “leaner,” and shared that 10,000 of these jobs will likely be replaced by AI, particularly roles in customer service and network management.
“The Board is delighted to have appointed Allison as our new Chief Executive. She is a proven leader, with deep sector experience and a history of having transformed businesses. I look forward to supporting her as we drive our long-term strategy to transform BT Group, ensuring it delivers for all our stakeholders,” said Adam Crozier, BT Group chairman, adding that because Kirkby is already on the board, the company is “confident we will have an orderly leadership transition and handover of responsibilities.”
Now Telia is the company on the lookout for a new leader, a process it says it has already begun.
