BT Openreach CEO Liv Garfield will step down in spring next year to lead water company Severn Trent.
Garfield has overseen BT’s UK fibre rollout, including its £2.5 billion infrastructure upgrade.
She will quit as the commercial project is due to finish, with BT set to announce a successor in due course.
Garfield will replace Severn Trent CEO Tony Wray after his retirement next year.
“It is a huge wrench to leave Openreach but I feel the time is now right to take on a fresh challenge,” said Garfield. “Our commercial programme to bring fibre broadband to two-thirds of UK premises is almost complete, whilst BT’s public sector broadband partnerships are making good progress.”
“BT has been a terrific employer, giving me lots of room to grow and develop my business skills,” she added. “It has been a tough decision but I leave Openreach in fantastic shape and have every confidence it will continue to thrive.”
The fibre rollout has pass 17 million homes and businesses, with BT adding 325,000 a month. Garfield has previously said she expects Openreach to pass 19 million premises across the UK by spring, and 20 million by the summer. She also expects Openreach to hit 90% coverage of the UK by 2015.
Garfield complained last week of negative press around the fibre rollout, despite work being “ahead of schedule”.
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