In a statement, Telia’s chairman, Lars-Johan Jarnheimer, expressed his disappointment at Kirkby’s decision to resign, acknowledging her leadership during a critical and demanding period for the company. This appointment, however, comes at the expense of Allera, the CEO of BT’s consumer brands EE and Plusnet, who was widely seen as the frontrunner to succeed Jansen. Allera’s reputation soared as he improved customer service and successfully sold BT Sport to US broadcaster Discovery.
Analyst Carl Murdock-Smith from Berenberg describes Allera as the “favorite” for the position and speculates that he may choose to leave BT following this decision. Egan perceives Kirkby’s appointment as a “board coup,” considering how abruptly it followed Jansen’s recent remarks about the competitive race to implement full-fiber broadband. She humorously compares it to someone quickly finding a new romantic partner after a breakup.
Significantly, BT’s choice for CEO sheds light on the priorities of the company’s board and shareholders. Kirkby joins BT during a challenging period as the company’s stock has declined nearly 50% in the last five years, while investing £15 billion in upgrading its broadband network. With a market value barely exceeding the amount it paid for mobile network EE in 2016, BT faces financial difficulties.
Kirkby’s role will involve overseeing the rollout of full-fiber broadband, aiming to reach 25 million premises by the end of 2026. Additionally, she is likely to contribute to BT’s involvement in the advancement of AI. Another crucial aspect of her job will be managing relationships with the Government, regulators, and unions, an area where Jansen often struggled. Philippa Childs, deputy general secretary of the Prospect union, wasted no time in emphasizing the new CEO’s responsibility to invest in the workforce and maintain collaborative relationships with unions.
However, the most fundamental task will be implementing the 55,000 job cuts outlined in BT’s transformation plan, aptly named.
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