BT's current Group Director of Strategy and Regulatory Affairs (GDSRA), Olivia Garfield, has been appointed to become the new Chief Executive (CEO) of the operators local access network business (BT Openreach).

Garfield is currently overseeing the company's "fibre broadband strategy" (i.e. FTTC and FTTP deployments) and other key areas. By contrast BT Openreach is responsible for ensuring that all rival UK ISPs have equality of access to the local BT network.

Meanwhile Steve Robertson, whom has led Openreach since its foundation in 2005, is to remain with BT to help ensure a smooth handover before leaving to exploit new opportunities. Garfield’s task will be to build on the foundations laid by Robertson, which will be quite similar to her previous role.



Naturally this also leaves a post open in Olivia Garfield's previous role, which will be filled by BT Retail's current Head of Strategy, Sean Williams. He previously held Board director positions at Ofcom, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) and Williams Lea Group plc. This process of musical chairs will officially commence place on 1st April 2011 (April Fool's Day, good timing).