BT appoints Jon James as CEO of new UK-focused BT Business amid revenue challenges

BT has announced the appointment of a CEO for its new UK-focused BT Business, coinciding with a reported decrease in revenue due to challenging trading conditions outside the UK.

The telecoms giant's share price dropped by just over four per cent in early trades, as reported by City AM.

Jon James will assume the role of CEO of BT Business in March, allowing Bas Burger to concentrate on optimising the international business segment, which is progressing as planned, according to Allison Kirby, chief executive of BT Group.

Kirby further stated that BT aims to be "fully focused" on the UK, with the sale of its data arm in Ireland finalised during the quarter.

Bas Burger heads BT’s business unit, established last spring, which consolidated the telecoms giant’s global and enterprise divisions into a single organisation, emphasising B2B relations. BT's business revenue dipped by five per cent in the third quarter of the year, amounting to £1.9m.

Total revenue at BT fell by three per cent year on year in the three months leading up to December 31, dropping from £5.3bn to £5.1bn.

BT attributed this decline to weaker handset trading and challenging trading conditions outside the UK, which were not counterbalanced by higher prices and growth in its ultra-fast broadband network.

The company reported that earnings before in