BT splits BT Retail in two
July 30, 2013
BT Retail is to split into two separate businesses, BT Consumer and BT Business. The move will take effect from September.
BT says the split will enable the company to better serve its customers and focus even more on delivering its strategic priorities. These include ‘Driving broadband-based consumer services’ and ‘Being the brand for business for UK SMEs’.
The CEO of BT Consumer will be John Petter, currently managing director of the Consumer unit within BT Retail. The CEO of BT Business will be Graham Sutherland, currently managing director of the Business unit within BT Retail. Both currently report into Gavin Patterson and they will continue to do so when he takes over from Ian Livingston as BT Group Chief Executive in September. Both will join BT’s Operating Committee on September 1st.
Patterson, BT Retail CEO, commented: “BT Retail has delivered well for many years now contributing strong profits to the group. It is time however for the business to be split in two given the intensely competitive nature of the consumer market and our strong ambitions in the business space. John and Graham are excellent leaders and I have every confidence they will take the fight to the competition and help BT to grow in the future.”
Petter said, BT Retail MD: “I am thrilled to be given this opportunity. BT is in a four way tussle with Sky, Virgin and TalkTalk for broadband customers and we are at the start of an exciting journey with BT Sport. There has never been a better time to be a consumer and we plan to up the ante in the coming years.”