LIFETIME OF ACHIEVEMENT IN MOBILE

Having been appointed Chief Executive of BT Group in February 2024 , succeeding Philip Jansen , Allison is renowned for her ability to lead large , successful companies and further transform them in the telecommunications industry .

Allison has worked for BT Group since being appointed to the board as a non-executive director in 2019 . In her new role at the helm , she is expected to be busy with a responsibility to oversee BT ’ s pledge to roll out £ 15bn ( US $ 18.89bn ) of fibre broadband to 25 million homes by 2026 .

“ Our products and services have never been more important to how our customers live and work ,” Allison said , speaking on her appointment .

Redefining the telecom culture Born in Scotland in 1967 , Allison earned a Higher National Diploma ( HND ) in Accounting from Glasgow Caledonian University . Having qualified as a chartered management accountant whilst working at Guinness in 1990 , she is also a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants ( FCMA ), the global professional management accounting body . Following this , she worked at Procter & Gamble for more than 20 years , rising the ranks to Managing Director , before entering the telecoms industry via Virgin Media . Her position as Executive Director Finance Operations and Transformation led her to later figurehead companies TDC Group and Tele2 AB , the largest challenger telecommunications company in Sweden and the Baltics .

In May 2020 , Allison joined Telia as Chief Executive . The company is one of Sweden ’ s largest telecom providers , of which 40 % is owned by the state . She was instrumental in implementing a sustainability strategy at the organisation .

However , most significantly , she led the company to streamline its offerings , prioritising its connectivity services , which has contributed towards lowering its debt .

Having worked across telecommunications for a number of years , Allison Kirkby is an experienced chief executive and board member . She has been recognised for creating significant shareholder value and building strong teams , having been awarded Most Powerful Female CEO in 2017 and Female Boss of the Year in 2020 .

30 May 2024