BT appoints consumer group chief

BT has appointed Gavin Patterson, managing director of Telewest Broadband’s consumer arm, to replace Angus Porter as group managing director of its consumer and ventures division.

Patterson, who starts his new role on January 12, has been at Telewest for four years and is a former Procter & Gamble marketer. He takes on a broader role than Porter, who had the title of managing director. Porter left BT in June to join Abbey as customer propositions director (MW June 12).

Patterson, who will report to BT Retail’s chief executive Pierre Danon, will also be in charge of defending the company’s fixed-line business and for driving sales of its BT Broadband and mobile services.

Patterson worked for P&G for nine years, rising to become marketing director of Pantene. He joined Telewest in 1999 as marketing director of the company’s telephone and internet services. He was promoted to managing director last year (MW 26 September, 2002).