july aug | Page 7

BT Group has appointed Allison Kirkby as its next chief executive . She will take over from Philip Jansen around the end of January 2024 at the latest .

A non-exec at BT since 2019 , Kirby has been CEO of multiplay telco Telia Company since early 2020 . She moved into the TMT sector in 2010 , joining Virgin Media .
“ The Board is delighted to have appointed Allison as our new chief executive ,” stated Adam Crozier , BT Group chairman . “ 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 .” “ I ’ m incredibly honoured to
“ I ’ m incredibly honoured to have been appointed as the next chief executive of BT Group ,” said Kirby .
have been appointed as the next chief executive of BT Group ,” added Kirby . “ 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

Allison Kirkby new BT chief executive

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 .”
Jansen will be available to support the handover until the end of March 2024 , at which point he intends to retire . In respect of the transition period , Crozier said : “ Philip continues to lead the business very effectively as can be seen in the good progress shown at our most recent financial results . Given Allison is already on the Board , we are confident we will have an orderly leadership transition and handover of responsibilities .”
In a separate announcement , Lars-Johan Jarnheimer , Telia Company ’ s chair of the Board , said : “ On behalf of the Board I would like to thank Allison for her leadership , vision and strong focus on value creation over the past three years . She has served during an important and challenging time in Telia ’ s history and made a positive and lasting impact through a relentless focus on driving a clear growth agenda , digitalisation of our operations and increasing simplicity throughout the organisation .”
“ I ’ m extremely proud of what we have accomplished together these past three years , despite the many headwinds we have faced ,” added Kirkby . “ Telia makes a difference every day for its customers and communities and the company is well positioned to be even more relevant for all of its customers going forward .”
France consults on UHD DTT services
French audiovisual services
and digital regulator Arcom
has been tasked by the
Government to grant public
service broadcaster France
Télévisions a right to use
frequencies to allow the
broadcasting of France 2
and France 3 in ultra-high
definition , over a large part
of mainland France and nine
overseas territories , from
2024 . Other broadcasters
have also expressed their interest in offering such a service .
In order to meet these demands , a multiplex , using new standards , should be deployed . The Authority has initiated several related technical projects .
Accordingly , Arcom is launching a public consultation aimed at determining the capacity of this multiplex , and in particular the number of ultra-high definition services that it could host .
Responses to the public consultation
are expected no later than
September 13th , 2023 .
The responses will contribute
to determining the
framework in which requests
for broadcasting in ultra-high
definition may be processed .
Canal + takes 12 % Viaplay stake
Canal + Group has taken a
12 % stake in beleaguered
Nordic pay-TV operator
Viaplay Group , announcing
the deal in a brief statement .
Announcing the company ’ s
Q2 results , Jørgen Madsen
Lindemann , Viaplay president
& CEO , said Viaplay was
adopting a new strategy and plan , which included , but was not limited to , focusing on its core Nordic , Netherlands and Viaplay Select operations ; implementing a new operational model ; downsizing , partnering or exiting its other international markets ; rightsizing and pricing its product offering in the Nordics ; undertaking a major cost reduction programme ; and conducting an immediate strategic review of the entire business to consider all options including content sublicensing , asset disposals , equity injections or the sale of the whole Group .
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