In a significant leadership transition at one of Britain's critical telecommunications infrastructure providers, Katie Milligan is set to assume the role of chief executive at BT Openreach, succeeding Clive Selley. This move marks the latest development in a comprehensive management reshuffle initiated by BT's leadership.
A Decade of Transformation at Openreach
Clive Selley, who has led Openreach for nearly ten years, will be stepping down from his position after overseeing a monumental £12 billion investment programme. This ambitious project aimed to roll out full fibre broadband across the United Kingdom, targeting 25 million homes. Under Selley's stewardship, Openreach has made substantial progress in addressing the nation's historical shortcomings in high-speed broadband infrastructure.
The initiative was originally championed by former BT chief executive Philip Jansen, who famously urged Selley to "build like fury" to propel the UK from its position as a global laggard in fibre optic deployment. This directive came at a crucial time when digital connectivity became increasingly vital for economic growth and social inclusion.
Strategic Leadership Changes Under Allison Kirkby
This executive transition represents part of a broader strategic realignment orchestrated by Allison Kirkby, BT's first female chief executive. Since assuming leadership in February 2024, Kirkby has implemented sweeping changes to the telecommunications group's executive committee, replacing ten of its eleven members.
Kirkby acknowledged Selley's substantial contributions, stating: "Openreach is a critical national asset – the digital backbone of the UK – and a key driver of BT Group's long-term value. Clive's contribution at the helm of Openreach has been exceptional. His leadership – particularly the scale, pace and quality of the full fibre broadband build, has set new standards for our industry."
The Fibre Rollout Achievement and Future Challenges
Since joining Openreach in 2016, Selley's primary mission involved upgrading the company's ageing network infrastructure to modern full fibre standards. The organisation now reports being on track to achieve its target of making full fibre broadband available to 25 million homes by the conclusion of this year.
However, Openreach faces mounting competitive pressures in the evolving broadband market. The company has recently forecast losing approximately 850,000 customers during the current financial year ending in March, following a similar decline of over 800,000 customers in the previous financial period. This customer attrition reflects increasing competition from alternative network providers, commonly referred to as "alt nets", including companies like CityFibre.
New Leadership and Strategic Decisions Ahead
Katie Milligan, currently serving as Selley's deputy, will inherit both the achievements and challenges of Openreach's position in the market. Among her immediate considerations will be whether to pursue further network expansion, potentially extending full fibre coverage to 30 million homes by the decade's end.
Meanwhile, Clive Selley will transition to lead BT's international division, replacing Bas Burger who is departing the organisation in April after eighteen years of service, including nine years on the executive committee. This move continues the pattern of strategic repositioning within BT's leadership structure.
The management changes occur against a backdrop of ongoing speculation regarding Openreach's future ownership structure. Industry observers have long suggested that BT might eventually consider selling either a partial stake or the entirety of its infrastructure division, though no formal plans have been announced.
As the telecommunications landscape continues to evolve with technological advancements and shifting market dynamics, these leadership transitions at BT and Openreach signal a new chapter for one of Britain's most essential digital infrastructure providers.
