Directorate Change

BT Group PLC
08 April 2008



DC08-122                                                           April 8, 2008


        IAN LIVINGSTON TO SUCCEED BEN VERWAAYEN AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF BT

Ian Livingston, who is currently chief executive of BT Retail, is to succeed Ben
Verwaayen as chief executive of BT Group on June 1st 2008. Ben will step down as
CEO on 31 May 2008, and will leave the board on June 30.

Ben Verwaayen will leave BT after more than six years during which he has led
the transformation of the company.

BT Chairman Sir Mike Rake paid tribute to him: "Ben has been an exceptional CEO
whose courage and leadership has transformed BT from being a deeply troubled
organisation into a thriving business with global capability and a clear
strategy for the future. The board has been involved in the process of
transition for many months to ensure an orderly succession. Ben has done more
than anyone else to make Britain the most competitive broadband market in the
world. He has been instrumental in restoring pride in BT. Everyone in the
company owes him a huge debt of gratitude and wishes him well for the future."

Ben joined BT in January 2002 from Lucent Technologies where he was
Vice-Chairman of the management board. He led BT's aggressive expansion into
broadband which has given the UK international leadership in broadband
availability. He initiated the rapid expansion of BT Global Services which
provides networked IT services to multinational organisations. Ben helped change
the regulatory landscape through the creation of Openreach giving all
communication providers in the UK equal network access. He has been awarded a
Chevalier de la Legion d'honneur by the French government for his services to
global telecommunications, honoured in The Netherlands as an Officer of the
Order of Oranje-Nassau, and recently received an honorary knighthood in the UK
for his contribution to the communications industry.

Commenting on his time at BT Ben said: "I have had six exciting years and I am
extremely proud of the people in BT. Without them the company's recent success
would not have been possible. I owe a particular debt of gratitude to the
executive directors who have served alongside me on the Board. Francois Barrault
and Hanif Lalani have made a magnificent contribution. They are outstanding
leaders. Ian Livingston will lead the company from strength to strength when he
takes over as CEO in June. He is a great guy with a fantastic record of business
achievement."

Ian Livingston joined BT as group finance director in 2002. He took over as
chief executive of BT Retail in 2005. Under his leadership BT Retail has
returned to growth and sharply increased profitability.

Sir Mike Rake said of him: "Ian was the board's unanimous choice to succeed Ben
in June. His record of achievement at BT and before that at Dixons is
outstanding. He has a deep understanding of BT having served as both group
finance director and CEO of BT Retail. He will continue to deliver on a proven
strategy. We share a vision of the future for BT as the leading communications
services company both in the UK and globally."

Ian Livingston said: "Ben has been a tremendous CEO. He has changed BT through
his passion and leadership. His informality and approachable style have won him
the admiration and respect of everyone in the business. BT is a great company
with a strong history and an even more exciting future. I am very proud to have
been chosen as its next CEO."

Ian Livingston's current role will be filled by Gavin Patterson, currently group
managing director of BT's consumer division. Gavin will become CEO of BT Retail
joining the BT board on June 1.



For further information

Inquiries about this news release should be made to the BT Group Newsroom on its
24-hour number: 020 7356 5369. From outside the UK dial + 44 20 7356 5369. All
news releases can be accessed at our web site: http://www.btplc.com/News



About BT

BT is one of the world's leading providers of communications solutions and
services operating in 170 countries. Its principal activities include the
provision of local, national and international telecommunications services to
our customers for use at home, at work and on the move; higher-value broadband
and internet products and services and converged fixed/mobile products and
services. BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services,
Openreach, BT Retail and BT Wholesale.


In the year ended 31 March 2007, BT Group plc's revenue was £20,223 million with
profit before taxation of £2,484 million.


British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group and
encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is
listed on stock exchanges in London and New York.


For more information, visit www.bt.com/aboutbt





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