BT Group has announced a major leadership change at Openreach, appointing long-serving executive Katie Milligan as the next chief executive of the broadband infrastructure arm, as the company enters a new phase of network delivery and customer connections.
Milligan will take over from Clive Selley, who has led Openreach through a decade of heavy capital investment that transformed it into the UK’s largest broadband network operator. Selley is moving into a new role as head of BT International, replacing Bas Burger, as part of a wider management reorganisation led by BT Group chief executive Allison Kirkby.
Brandspur Brand News reports that the leadership transition comes as Openreach approaches the final stretch of its nationwide fibre rollout. Under Selley’s stewardship, the company expanded its full-fibre network to reach around 22 million homes and businesses, maintaining a build pace of roughly one million premises every quarter.
BT has repeatedly stated that Openreach remains on course to hit its target of passing 25 million premises with fibre by the end of the year, marking one of the largest digital infrastructure projects in Britain’s history.
Also read: https://brandspurng.com/2026/02/12/jumias-china-strategy-powers-82-spike-in-international-sales/
Milligan, who joined BT in 2004, has been a central figure in shaping Openreach’s commercial strategy. She has focused on driving adoption of fibre connections across retail broadband providers, including BT’s own consumer arm as well as competitors such as Sky and Vodafone.
With most of the network construction phase nearing completion, Milligan said the company’s priorities will shift towards accelerating customer connections and maximising the value of the fibre footprint. She signalled continuity rather than disruption, noting that Openreach would refine its existing strategy rather than pursue radical change.
The leadership shake-up underscores BT’s effort to align its top management with a post-build reality, where commercial execution, customer migration and operational efficiency are expected to play a bigger role in delivering long-term returns from its fibre investment.
