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LONDON (Alliance News) - BT Group PLC on Thursday named Worldpay Inc Co-Chief Executive Officer Philip Jansen as its own new CEO, replacing Gavin Patterson, who will leave at the end of January next year.
At the end of September, Worldpay announced that Jansen will step down at the end of 2018, and the payment processor will move to a single CEO structure led by Executive Chairman & Co-CEO Charles Drucker. Sky News subsequently reported that Jansen was the preferred candidate to take over from Patterson at BT.
Back in June, BT had announced that Patterson would step down later in 2018 once a replacement will be appointed.
Jansen has served as co-chief executive of Worldpay since 2013. Jansen led Worldpay through its flotation in 2015 and its combination with Vantiv in 2018.
He previously was CEO and then chairman of food & drinks supplier Brakes Group and has held a variety of senior roles in hospitality company Sodexo Group.
"The board is delighted to have appointed Philip as our new chief executive. He is a proven leader with outstanding experience in managing large complex businesses," said BT Chairman Jan du Plessis.
"His most recent success at Worldpay, a technology-led business, means he is well suited to build on the solid foundations that are in place at BT," added Jan du Plessis.
In a separate statement, BT said it appointed Matthew Key as a non-executive director with immediate effect.
BT said Key has a wealth of telecoms experience, having previously served as CEO of mobile phone operator O2 UK, as well as chairman & chief executive of broadband firm Telefonica Europe and Telefonica Digital and a member of Samsung Europe's advisory board.
"I'm honoured to join BT's board. This is an exciting time for the industry and I believe BT has an important role to play in its development," said Key.
BT shares were trading 1.0% lower on Thursday at 247.65 pence each.
