New BT chief needs tech skills

A TELECOMS or technology expert is most likely to replace outgoing British Telecom chief executive Sir Peter Bonfield, according to analysts.

Whoever is head-hunted should be able to complement the media skills of chairman Sir Christopher Bland and the expertise of finance director Philip Hampton. Such a triumvirate will give BT the greatest chance of growing its customer base, cutting costs and expanding its range of services.

If this is a view accepted by the BT board, then highly respected former Energis chief executive Mike Grabiner heads the list. But it is not clear whether he wants the job. Other UK candidates include BSkyB chief executive Tony Ball, president of European telecoms firm GTS Duncan Lewis, and Logica chief executive Martin Read.

Ball may be looking for fresh challenges now Rupert Murdoch's hopes of acquiring DirecTV have been dashed. Lewis will be seeking a new job having success-fully engineered the rescue and subsequent sale of debt-laden GTS. Read has built Logica into a FTSE 100 technology power-house.

The position is bound to offer huge incentives and bonuses, thanks to the low share price. On the downside BT is bureaucratic, has militant unions and is now mostly a UK regulated utility. The shares closed 6p down at 342p.