BT sets up new 'Digital' technology unit

Organisation also undergoes leadership reshuffle as chief strategy and transformation officer Mike Sherman departs

BT has launched a new "Digital" unit as part of its own transformation efforts.

BT Digital will be effective from 1 April and will focus on the development and delivery of products, platforms and services in areas including healthcare and data. The new unit will be responsible for IT; data and AI; BT's business transformation and product strategy.

It will be led by Harmeen Mehta, who has been appointed BT's new chief digital and innovation officer. She joins the business from her current role as group CIO of global telecoms firm Bharti Airtel. She will join the company on 1 March.

"BT is an institution with deep roots and a rich and fabulous past of serving customers and multinationals in the UK and globally," stated Mehta.

"I am really excited to be part of the future of BT as we build a customer-centric digital organisation bringing new products and services to delight our customers and create new opportunities of digital growth in the business.

"There never has been a more interesting time to play such a meaningful role in the lives of our customers and I'm excited to play such a key role in delivering the exciting ambition that Philip and his team have set out."

Mehta's appointment is not the only change in BT's senior leadership team. Mike Sherman, chief strategy and transformation officer, will be departing after three years with the firm.

"This is more than a leadership announcement, it's an important statement of intent," stated BT CEO Philip Jansen.

"2020 saw a number of major BT innovations enter the marketplace but there's opportunity to go much further. The creation of BT Digital will enable us to focus on the areas where we can have the greatest impact, delivering digital platforms that bring together best-in-class services for our customers, and fully embracing new technologies such as AI and machine learning.

"This is bigger than just BT; it's about building partnerships with other leading innovators to expand into new areas and bring the benefits of top-notch digital services to customers, including enhanced converged fixed and mobile services, tools that guard against cyber-attacks, and connected care applications to help families look after elderly or vulnerable loved ones even if they're geographically remote.

"These changes will help us take these ideas to market fast and at scale, accelerating our digital and business transformation programmes already underway."