BT hires global chief to head UK Markets division

BT has appointed global business chief Peter Macleod to head its UK Markets division, following the departure of Afshin Mohebbi.

Macleod, BT Global Business Markets managing director and chief executive of Concert Communications, takes over as managing director of BT UK Markets, which incorporates marketing.

Marketing director Angus Porter will report to Macleod, who in turn reports to BT UK group managing director Bill Cockburn.

Macleod, 56, takes on the job just two weeks after ex-marketer Mohebbi, 36, left following two years with BT to join US Internet company Qwest Communications (MW May 6).

In his 11 years at BT, Macleod has been director of IT systems, UK sales director, business communications director and director of multinational sales and service.

Before BT Macleod spent 21 years with US computer company Unisys, as director of marketing and director of strategic planning.

UK Markets generates 10bn in annual sales from a combination of 20 million consumer and 1.5 million business accounts. The UK accounts for 95 per cent of BT’s operating revenues.

No replacement for Macleod has been announced at BT Global Business Markets, which services multinational corporations as part of BT’s international arm, BT Worldwide.

BT is merging most of its international business, including Concert, with US telecom company AT&T.

Concert was set up in 1993 with MCI to provide global data, voice and video services. But in 1998, MCI merged with WorldCom instead of BT, which then bought back MCI’s 25 per cent stake in Concert, prior to the AT&T deal.