New broom Du Plessis to replace Rake at BT

BT has called in Rio Tinto’s Jan du Plessis as its new chairman to guide the telecoms firm through troubled times.

The South African will replace Sir Mike Rake, who has been at the helm of the business for 10 years.

BT said Du Plessis, who will join the board as a director in June but not become chairman until November, was the board’s “unanimous choice”. He has stepped down as chairm of miner Rio after eight years in post.

The change comes as BT is working through an accounting scandal in Italy and amid a tussle with Ofcom over a possible separation of its Openreach broadband infrastructure arm.

Rake said BT had made “huge progress” in the past 10 years, adding: “Though clearly there are continuing challenges, the company’s performance remains on track.”

Du Plessis said: “This is an important time for BT and I look forward to working with [chief executive Gavin Patterson] and his team to help BT continue to support Britain’s digital future.”