Monday, July 31, 2023

BT names Allison Kirkby as next CEO, replacing Philip Jansen

BT Group plc selected Allison Kirkby as its next Chief Executive, replacing Philip Jansen as Chief Executive around the end of January 2024 at the latest.

Kirkby currently serves as President & CEO of Telia Company since early 2020.  She moved into the TMT sector in 2010, initially joining Virgin Media, and was most recently President & CEO of TDC (2018-2020), the largest telecommunications company in Denmark, and President & CEO of Tele2 AB (2015-2018) the largest challenger telecommunications company in Sweden and the Baltics.

She has been a Non-Executive Director at BT Group since 2019 and is also a Non-Executive Director and member of the Audit Committee of Brookfield Asset Management Limited.

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.”

BT also announced the following remuneration for Kirkby:

  • 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 our Remuneration Policy.
  • An on target annual bonus of 120% of salary (with a maximum of 200%) subject to performance. Half of the annual bonus paid will be deferred into BT Group shares for a further three years with no additional performance conditions.
  • A long-term Restricted Share Plan (“RSP”) award of 200% of salary, which vests in three equal tranches three, four and five years after grant. She is required to hold all vested shares until five years after grant. Her first pro rata RSP award will be granted soon after becoming Chief Executive.