Former BT boss takes new job
Former BT chief executive Ben Verwaayen was today named as the new boss of troubled telecoms equipment firm Alcatel-Lucent.
Mr Verwaayen, who takes on his new role with immediate effect, will be hoping to match his success at BT, where he worked as chief executive for six years and earned praise for leading a recovery in the UK company’s fortunes.
The Dutchman, who left BT in June, will take on the role previously held by chief executive Patricia Russo. The world’s largest maker of fixed-line telecommunications equipment also named former EADS joint chief executive Philippe Camus as non-executive chairman.
The company has reported losses in every quarter since Alcatel bought Lucent Technologies in 2006. The tie-up had been expected to produce a stronger rival to the likes of Sweden’s Ericsson, but intense competition resulted in many of the cost savings from the deal being used on discounts for customers.
Prior to his job at BT, Mr Verwaayen worked as vice-chairman of the management board at US-based Lucent.
The 56-year-old joined BT at a time when the UK firm was losing ground to new competition and struggling to be taken seriously in the broadband sector.
It is now a major player in the corporate IT and network services sector, while it has protected its competitive position in traditional telephony. BT’s inroads into the high speed internet market pushed broadband connections from 167,000 in March 2002 to 12.2 million at the end of last year.
Mr Verwaayen was succeeded at BT by Ian Livingston, previously chief executive of its retail arm.
Mr Livingston said today: “Ben knows the global communications industry inside out. He is an outstanding CEO, who will bring formidable energy and strong leadership to his new role.
“Alcatel-Lucent is an important partner to BT, and I wish him every success”.
