BT Names Radianz CEO

LONDON -- BT Radianz, a leading global provider of financial connectivity services, today announced the appointments of a new Chief Executive Officer and a new Chief Technology Officer in a move that will help drive the next phase of the integration of the business with BT.

Rick Snape has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of BT Radianz. Previously he was the General Manager of BT Radianz's Extranet Business Unit. In this new role he will continue to expand the BT Radianz community and market infrastructure platform while leveraging the BT vision for enterprise and client connectivity. Snape has a wealth of experience in financial services technology, including business management roles at SunGard, Bridge, Bankers Trust and Telerate.

Mark Akass has been appointed Chief Technology Officer of BT Radianz. Akass brings more than twenty years of technology experience with a decade spent in the financial services industry, most recently having served as BT Radianz Vice President and head of engineering since the company's founding in June 2000. Previously, Akass was a founding member and Vice President, Business Support, at Equant, now a division of France Telecom. Akass also served as Manager of Network Development at London Stock Exchange.

In conjunction with these appointments, Howard Edelstein, CEO of BT Radianz, has announced his intention to leave his current position with BT to enable him to pursue his interest in private equity investing. Edelstein will stay involved with BT in an advisory capacity for the foreseeable future and will assist in the search for a successor in his role as head of BT Global Financial Services.

Neil Rogers, President Global Business Management in BT, said: "The appointments of Rick Snape and Mark Akass reflect BT's commitment to building a world-class service provider devoted exclusively to the financial industry. These individuals bring a wealth of industry knowledge and experience to the table and will play a key role in implementing BT's value add vision for the global finance industry. We are equally delighted to be able to count on Howard Edelstein's further contribution going forward. BT Radianz has thrived under Edelstein's strategic guidance, and he has been instrumental in its integration into BT."

BT Group plc (NYSE: BT; London: BTA)