LONDON, UK: BT Group plc, the UK’s leading provider of broadband, mobile, TV and phone services, has announced the appointment of Allison Kirkby as its new Chief Executive. She will succeed Philip Jansen, who will step down from the role by the end of January 2024.
Allison Kirkby is a seasoned leader in the telecommunications sector, with over a decade of experience in various senior positions. She is currently the President & CEO of Telia Company, the market leading digital communications and telecommunications provider in the Nordic and Baltic region. She has also been a Non-Executive Director at BT Group since 2019 and is a Non-Executive Director and member of the Audit Committee of Brookfield Asset Management Limited.
Allison has a track record of transforming businesses, driving performance, improving customer service and delivering shareholder value. She has previously served as the President & Group CEO of TDC Group, the largest telecommunications company in Denmark, and the President & Group CEO of Tele2 AB, the largest challenger telecommunications company in Sweden and the Baltics. She has also held financial and operational roles at Procter & Gamble and Virgin Media.
Adam Crozier, BT Group Chairman, said: “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.”
Allison Kirkby said: “I’m incredibly honoured to have been appointed as the next Chief Executive of BT Group. BT is such an important company for the UK, and our many customers both in the UK and internationally and is uniquely placed to help everyone benefit from the rapid advances in digitalisation. Our products and services have never been more important to how our customers live and work, and thanks to the significant investment BT is putting into digital infrastructure and in the modernisation of its services, I see us playing an even more important role going forward. 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.”
Philip Jansen will continue to serve as Chief Executive until the end of January 2024 at the latest. When Philip steps down, he will hand over to Allison. He will be available to support the handover until the end of March 2024, at which point he intends to retire from executive life. A further announcement will follow to confirm Allison’s start date and the handover date.
Allison will be paid in accordance with the Directors’ Remuneration Policy approved by shareholders on 13 July 2023 and in line with the current Chief Executive. Her remuneration will consist of a salary of £1,100,000 per annum, a cash allowance in lieu of pension of 10% of salary and other benefits in line with BT Group’s Remuneration Policy, an on target annual bonus of 120% of salary (with a maximum of 200%) subject to performance, and a long-term Restricted Share Plan award of 200% of salary, which vests in three equal tranches three, four and five years after grant.
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