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* Crozier to become chairman on Dec. 1
* BT in crucial transformation phase
(Adds background, quote)
By Kate Holton
LONDON, Aug 17 (Reuters) - BT named Adam Crozier as
its next chairman on Tuesday, tapping one of the most
experienced corporate operators in Britain to oversee the group
through a key transformational period in its 175-year history.
Crozier, who previously brought new strategies to
broadcaster ITV, Royal Mail and the Football
Association, will become chairman designate on Nov. 1 and
chairman proper a month later, when Jan du Plessis retires.
He joins as the company embarks on a major infrastructure
programme, racing to take fast broadband fibre to 25 million
premises by the end of 2026, and as it weighs partnering with
investors on part of the build, and in its sports TV division.
He will also have to manage the new relationship with
Patrick Drahi, a Franco-Israeli telecoms entrepreneur who
stunned investors in June when he announced that he controlled
12.1% of BT, making him the biggest shareholder.
Crozier will work alongside BT CEO Philip Jansen, dubbed by
observers as a "man in a hurry", who having received millions of
pounds in his previous job running Worldpay, is battling to
shake up and modernise the former telecoms monopoly.
BT was forced earlier this year to deny that Jansen had
threatened to resign unless du Plessis quit, following a media
report that the CEO was frustrated with the pace of change.
A person familiar with the matter said the two had discussed
whether they were the best combination to deliver such widescale
change but that their relationship had always remained amicable.
Iain Conn, BT's senior independent director, said Crozier
had been the board's unanimous choice to take over.
"He has significant experience in leading public company
boards, developing teams and managing stakeholders and brings a
strong transformational and operational track record in
large-scale executive roles," he said.
Crozier will step down as chairman of online fashion retail
ASOS on Nov. 29, and as a non-executive director of
Sony Corp. at the end of the year.
"BT is a hugely important company, with a critical role to
play in building the digital networks and services to support
the UK's future," Crozier said.
BT's shares, up 64% in a year on favourable regulatory
rulings and the Drahi stake, slipped 1% in early trade.
(Reporting by Kate Holton
Editing by Michael Holden and David Holmes)
