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(Alliance News) - Ian Cheshire has thrown his hat into the ring to be the next chair of FTSE 100 telecommunications provider BT Group PLC, the Telegraph reported on Sunday.
"It's not a state secret that I will put my hand up," he told the newspaper. "If there's an opportunity for me to do it, brilliant."
He added, however: "As many of my more charitable friends have pointed out, the last four chairmen have all come from outside. So my chances are not necessarily that great, but I think it’s always good to have an internal option."
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2021/03/28/sir-ian-cheshire-ex-barclays-boss-eyeing-bts-chairman-role/
BT earlier this month said that Jan du Plessis will retire as chair this year once a successor has been found, having served in the role since November 2017.
Following a media report that BT Chief Executive Philip Jansen indicated he was prepare to resign unless du Plessis was replaced by a chair who could accelerate change at the company, BT said the suggestion that du Plessis had impeded the transformation of the group was "without foundation".
Cheshire is the former chief executive of DIY story chain Kingfisher PLC. He joined the BT board back in March of last year. Earlier this month, he was named chair of private hospital operator Spire Healthcare Group PLC.
Cheshire recently stepped down as chair of Barclays UK, the ring-fenced retail and business bank of Barclays PLC. He remains a director of Barclays Bank PLC.
BT shares were up 2.0% at 150.98 pence on Monday morning in London.
By Tom Waite; thomaslwaite@alliancenews.com
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