BT Group PLC (LSE:BT.A) is already drawing up plans to replace the telecoms group’s chief executive Philip Jansen after just four years in the driving seat, sources have reportedly told the Mail on Sunday.
Succession plans were “an open secret” in the City, said sources, with pitches from potential suitors being fielded for “quite some time”.
Telecoms analyst Paolo Pescatore named BT subsidiary EE’s chief Marc Allera as a possible successor.
“Jansen has helped navigate the group through a difficult period but it's probably time to think about the next chapter for him and BT,” Pescatore stated.
Jansen has been the driving force behind the accelerated rollout of Openreach’s full-fibre broadband infrastructure.
Openreach’s footprint exceeded 10 million homes by the end of 2022, more than its two full-fibre competitors Virgin Media O2 and CityFibre combined.
Jansen has also touted BT’s controversial wholesale broadband discount regime called Equinox 2, which aims to draw in internet service providers through cheaper access to BT’s full-fibre infrastructure.
But he drew criticism from communications regulator Ofcom in recent weeks after contentiously remarking that the offer will “end in tears” for BT’s altnet competitors.
His ill-timed remark forced the delay of Equinox 2, which was due to take effect on April 1, by two months while Ofcom weighs up anti-competitive concerns voiced by BT’s competitors.
Jansen faced a crisis in 2022 when 30,000 Openreach engineers and thousands of call centre workers went on strike over the summer over pay negotiations.
The Communication Workers Union (CWU) accused Jansen of “running from his responsibilities” and inadvertently allowing emergency 999 calls to go unanswered.