Latest news with #AthalieWilliams
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
BT denies exit of human resources chief is due to firm dumping diversity targets from bosses' bonuses
BT has parted company with its human resources chief in the wake of dropping the diversity targets in its manager bonus scheme. Athalie Williams, BT's chief people and culture officer, will leave the company after two and a half years in the role for personal reasons. The HR boss is understood to be going back to retire in her native Australia and spend more time with her family. She is set to be placed by Alison Wilcox, who previously served as BT's group HR director before taking up non-executive positions in the NHS. Last month, the company dropped the diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) measure in its manager bonus scheme but BT insists this is not connected to Ms William's departure. The DEI measure accounted for 10pc of the bonus incentive before it was replaced it with a measure of employee engagement, the Telegraph reports. Despite BT saying the change was made with 'strong support' from shareholders, it came in direct contrast to comments from BT's chief executive Allison Kirkby. Following Donald Trump's re-election, she criticised other companies for watering down their DEI targets. In a memo to staff earlier this year, she wrote: 'I believe we need to be as diverse as the customers we service, to be the customer-centric company we aspire to be and to be able to live up to our purpose. 'When we determine to be inclusive, we create an environment where everyone, no matter their background or characteristics, feels respected, valued and like they belong.' The chief executive is understood to have been attempting to shake up the telecoms giant following her appointment last year and has made a number of senior leadership changes. It is believed Ms Kirby is focusing on core mobile and broadband offerings including halting plans to dump BT as the company's flagship brand and develop the group's international operations ahead of a potential sale. The company is reportedly near to finalising a deal to sell its 50pc stake in TNT Sports, formerly known as BT Sport, to joint venture partner Warner Bros Discovery. Reports also suggest that Ms Kirkby is going forward with plans to cut tens of thousands of jobs by the end of 2029. The firm has previously announced plans to cut up to 55,000 jobs worldwide by 2030 as it looks to shave billions of pounds off its cost base. It said it was on track to deliver on the plans, with more than £900 million of annual cost savings delivered so far. A BT spokesman said: 'Athalie Williams, chief people and culture officer, has decided to return to her family in Australia and retire from executive life to pursue a portfolio career. 'She will continue to support on her handover to Alison Wilcox, who will return to BT to take on this role from June 1. 'We remain committed to our inclusion and representation aspirations to better reflect the customers and communities we serve, and we are making good progress towards them. 'We have received strong support from our shareholders on the proposals to amend our group scorecard. 'BT Group works with external advisors to support strategic programmes, and following a competitive procurement process engaged JMW Consultants to deliver projects focused on enhancing leadership performance. 'These projects took place over the course of 2024, and concluded at the end of year.' The group has said it expects earnings to remain largely flat over the year ahead as it presses ahead with a major cost-cutting overhaul and plans to refocus on its UK business. The group reported underlying earnings up 1% to £8.21 billion in the year to March 31, as cost savings helped offset a 2% fall in revenues. BT said it ended its financial year with 3% fewer staff, at 116,000 in total including contractors, while its directly employed workforce was slashed by 8%. As revenues remain under pressure, the group is forecasting little change to underlying earnings over the new financial year, with guidance for between £8.2 billion and £8.3 billion. Underlying revenues will remain at around £20 billion, having delivered £20.4 billion in 2024-25. But the group said UK service revenues returned to growth in the second half of its last financial year, up 1% in the final quarter, limiting the overall annual decline to 0.4%. Its networks division, called Openreach, was the only part of the business that saw both revenue and earnings growth over the year as it continued to roll out fibre across Britain. The firm said it saw growth in its consumer broadband customer base during the final quarter for the first time since December 2021. Ms Kirkby said: 'The momentum in, and impact of, our full fibre programme is such that we are now raising our build target by 20% to up to five million UK premises in 2025-26, keeping us comfortably on track to reach 25 million by the end of 2026.' Ms Kirkby is leading a revamp of the company after taking on the top job last year and is considering selling off or breaking up its international arm, which the group has carved out from the rest of the business as it looks to refocus on its UK operations. BT has been gradually reducing its overseas business as part of wider cost-cutting plans, recently selling off its troubled Italian business and previously agreeing the sale of its Irish wholesale and enterprise business unit. Ms Kirkby said the group had 'accelerated the pace of simplification and transformation' over the past year.
Telegraph
22-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
BT parts with HR chief in wake of DEI embarrassment
BT has parted ways with its human resources (HR) chief in the wake of an embarrassing about-turn over the company's DEI strategies. The Telegraph has learnt that Athalie Williams, BT's chief people and culture officer, is stepping down after less than two and a half years in the role. She will be replaced by Alison Wilcox, who previously served as the telecoms giant's group HR director before taking up non-executive positions in the NHS. BT said Ms Williams was departing for personal reasons. The executive is understood to be going back to her native Australia to spend time with her family. The BT HR role is hugely influential, given the telecoms giant employs more than 90,000 people. The change in personnel comes after several incidents that threw BT's human resources policies into disarray. The company last month dropped the diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) measure in its manager bonus scheme – which accounted for 10pc of the incentive – and replaced it with a measure of employee engagement. BT said it was making the change with 'strong support' from shareholders. However, the move was in direct contrast to comments from Allison Kirkby, BT's chief executive, who criticised other companies for watering down their DEI targets in the wake of Donald Trump's re-election. In a memo to staff earlier this year, she said: 'I believe we need to be as diverse as the customers we service, to be the customer-centric company we aspire to be and to be able to live up to our purpose. 'When we determine to be inclusive, we create an environment where everyone, no matter their background or characteristics, feels respected, valued and like they belong.' In a further embarrassing incident, it emerged that BT had spent more than £1m on a leadership guru for senior executives who fell asleep in meetings. Dan Spiwack, the chief executive of US-based JMW Consultants, was brought in on a nine-month contract to offer training to top bosses. However, he was soon branded a 'running joke' internally after repeatedly falling asleep because of heart medication he was taking. Ms Kirkby is understood to have appointed Mr Spiwack on the recommendation of BT's HR department following an open procurement process. The contract was not renewed. Operations overhaul BT's chief executive has been attempting to shake up the lumbering telecoms behemoth since taking over the top job early last year. She has made a number of senior leadership changes and is trying to refocus BT on its core mobile and broadband offerings. This includes shelving plans to ditch BT as the company's flagship brand for millions of consumers and carving out the group's international operations ahead of a potential sale. Ms Kirkby is also pushing ahead with plans to cut tens of thousands of jobs by the end of the decade. In a further sign that BT is refocusing on its core offering, the company is reportedly closing in on a deal to sell its 50pc stake in TNT Sports to joint venture partner Warner Bros Discovery. The sale of the channel, formerly known as BT Sport, would end the company's expensive foray into sports broadcasting after more than a decade. BT moved into sports under Gavin Patterson, then-chief executive, in the hope that winning sought-after rights would help boost its broadband customer numbers. However, competing against Sky in the areas has proved costly. The strategy overhaul comes amid pressure from Sunil Bharti Mittal, the Indian telecoms billionaire who last year became the company's largest shareholder. Mr Mittal has built a 24.5pc stake in BT and has summoned executives for meetings as he uses his investment to exert influence, though BT has insisted that he is supportive of its strategy. BT's shares are up more than 50pc since the start of Ms Kirkby's tenure in a sign that investors have welcomed her pledge to slash costs and scale back heavy investment in broadband infrastructure. She will face another key test of her progress on Thursday morning when BT announces results for the full year. A BT spokesman said: 'Athalie Williams, chief people and culture officer, has decided to return to her family in Australia and retire from executive life to pursue a portfolio career. She will continue to support on her handover to Alison Wilcox, who will return to BT to take on this role from June 1. 'We remain committed to our inclusion and representation aspirations to better reflect the customers and communities we serve, and we are making good progress towards them. We have received strong support from our shareholders on the proposals to amend our group scorecard. 'BT Group works with external advisors to support strategic programmes, and following a competitive procurement process engaged JMW Consultants to deliver projects focused on enhancing leadership performance. These projects took place over the course of 2024, and concluded at the end of year.'
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Telecoms giant to hire 82 Darlington apprentices in recruitment drive
BT Group has revealed plans to hire 82 apprentices in Darlington in September 2025. These new recruits will work as apprentice customer service advisors in EE, a part of BT Group. This is part of BT's nationwide plan to bring in more than 600 apprentices and graduates this year. In the North East, 182 of these positions will be filled, with 100 in Newcastle and 82 in Darlington. The Darlington apprentices will be based at the EE customer service centre. Athalie Williams, chief human resources officer at BT Group, said: "I'm incredibly proud of the opportunities we provide to develop new talent at BT Group and recognise the valuable contributions graduates and apprentices bring to the workforce. "Last year alone, we recruited around 500 apprentices and graduates, all eager to learn, develop their skills, and help deliver better experiences for our customers." BT Group has recruited more than 3,000 apprentices and graduates in the last five years, making it the UK's top private sector apprenticeship employer. The company was named the UK's leading private sector company for apprentices in 2024. Last year, BT launched a new Apprenticeship Fund, designed to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), charities, and public sector organisations across England. These groups can access up to £4 million in apprenticeship funding over an initial four-year period. In partnership with Babington, one of the UK's largest and longest-established apprenticeship training providers, BT is offering businesses the financial support they need to invest in talent. Organisations can register their interest on the BT Group Apprenticeship Fund Portal. Minister for Skills, Jacqui Smith, said: "Apprenticeships are central to this government's Plan for Change. "They break down barriers to opportunity and equip people of all ages and backgrounds with the skills they need to go on to rewarding careers. "They also drive growth by giving businesses the workforce they need in key sectors of the economy. "It's great to see BT Group, one of our Top 100 apprentice employers, backing this mission by recruiting more than 600 apprentices and graduates. "Their commitment demonstrates the real impact apprenticeships can have both for individuals and for businesses pushing our economy forward." For more information on apprenticeships or graduate jobs at BT Group, visit
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
BT to recruit more than 600 apprentices and graduates
Telecoms giant BT is to recruit more than 600 apprentices and graduates for its September intake this year. Places will be available in areas including cyber security, software engineering and customer service. The new roles will be based at BT Group's sites including Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Darlington, Ipswich, Leeds, London, Manchester, Sheffield, and Warrington. BT Group has recruited more than 3,000 apprentices and graduates over the past five years. Athalie Williams, chief human resources officer at BT Group, said: 'I'm incredibly proud of the opportunities we provide to develop new talent at BT Group and recognise the valuable contributions graduates and apprentices bring to the workforce. 'Last year alone, we recruited around 500 apprentices and graduates, all eager to learn, develop their skills, and help deliver better experiences for our customers.' Last year, BT launched a new apprenticeship fund aimed at supporting smaller companies, charities and public sector organisations across England, who can access up to £4 million in funding over an initial four-year period. Jacqui Smith, Minister for Skills, said: 'Apprenticeships are central to this Government's Plan for Change – they break down barriers to opportunity and equip people of all ages and backgrounds with the skills they need to go on to rewarding careers. 'They also drive growth by giving businesses the workforce they need in key sectors of the economy. 'It's great to see BT Group, one of our Top 100 apprentice employers, backing this mission by recruiting more than 600 apprentices and graduates. 'Their commitment demonstrates the real impact apprenticeships can have both for individuals and for businesses pushing our economy forward. 'We are fully committed to expanding opportunities even further. 'Through our reforms, including the introduction of Skills England and our new Growth and Skills offer, we will ensure even more apprentices will join the pipeline of talent that will drive growth and power our mission-driven government.'
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
BT to recruit more than 600 apprentices and graduates
Telecoms giant BT is to recruit more than 600 apprentices and graduates for its September intake this year. Places will be available in areas including cyber security, software engineering and customer service. The new roles will be based at BT Group's sites including Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Darlington, Ipswich, Leeds, London, Manchester, Sheffield, and Warrington. BT Group has recruited more than 3,000 apprentices and graduates over the past five years. Athalie Williams, chief human resources officer at BT Group, said: 'I'm incredibly proud of the opportunities we provide to develop new talent at BT Group and recognise the valuable contributions graduates and apprentices bring to the workforce. 'Last year alone, we recruited around 500 apprentices and graduates, all eager to learn, develop their skills, and help deliver better experiences for our customers.' Last year, BT launched a new apprenticeship fund aimed at supporting smaller companies, charities and public sector organisations across England, who can access up to £4 million in funding over an initial four-year period. Jacqui Smith, Minister for Skills, said: 'Apprenticeships are central to this Government's Plan for Change – they break down barriers to opportunity and equip people of all ages and backgrounds with the skills they need to go on to rewarding careers. 'They also drive growth by giving businesses the workforce they need in key sectors of the economy. 'It's great to see BT Group, one of our Top 100 apprentice employers, backing this mission by recruiting more than 600 apprentices and graduates. 'Their commitment demonstrates the real impact apprenticeships can have both for individuals and for businesses pushing our economy forward. 'We are fully committed to expanding opportunities even further. 'Through our reforms, including the introduction of Skills England and our new Growth and Skills offer, we will ensure even more apprentices will join the pipeline of talent that will drive growth and power our mission-driven government.'
