(Alliance News) - BT Group PLC on Monday said it will create a new technology unit, Digital, focused on next-generation services for the telecommunication firm's customers.
London-based FTSE 100 company BT Digital will lead the company's digital innovation agenda effective April 1 and will focus on developing and quickly delivering innovative products, as well as platforms and services for "key areas such as healthcare and data".
Harmeen Mehta will join BT from Indian telecommunications provider Bharti Airtel in order to lead the new unit. She has been named as BT's chief digital & innovation officer and will report directly to Chief Executive Philip Jansen and as a member of the executive committee.
BT named Howard Watson as chief technology officer and also announced the formation of a non-executive technology advisory board consisting of "recognised industry experts" that will meet three times per year.
Members include Daniela Rus, director of the Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at MIT, and Wendy Hall, who co-founded the Web Science Research Initiative in 2006 alongside Tim Berners-Lee and Nigel Shadbolt.
Mike Sherman, chief strategy & transformation officer, will leave BT after three years with the firm.
BT Chief Executive Philip Jansen said: "The creation of BT Digital will enable us to focus on the areas where we can have the greatest impact, delivering digital platforms that bring together best-in-class services for our customers, and fully embracing new technologies such as AI and machine learning."
Shares in BT were marginally lower at 142.95 pence in London on Monday afternoon.
By Anna Farley; annafarley@alliancenews.com
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