LONDON -- Pierre Danon will be leaving BT in the New Year to take up the position of Chief Operating Officer at Cap Gemini in Paris. Pierre Danon joined BT as chief executive of BT Retail in October 2000 and was appointed to the board in November 2001.

Pierre has been instrumental in driving innovation and taking BT back into the mobile market. He brought a new focus to customer service as recognised by uSwitch which has awarded BT four stars for customer service, and ranked it second in the UK.

Under his leadership there has been a significant increase in profits and cash flow within BT Retail. Costs have been reduced by £800 million, and he has built a strong leadership team. All this leaves BT Retail well positioned for future growth with a market leading portfolio of services and a rich pipeline of exciting new broadband products.

Pierre Danon said: “I am thrilled by the scale of the new opportunity offered to me by Cap Gemini, and proud of the work completed by the BT Retail Team. BT faces an exciting and successful future.

“I am pleased to have played my part in the transformation of the company that is being led by Sir Christopher Bland, Ben Verwaayen and the rest of the Board. I have every faith in BT’s strategy and am confident that it will continue to deliver for BT’s customers, shareholders and staff.”

Ben Verwaayen, BT chief executive officer, paid tribute to Pierre Danon: “Pierre has done a superb job at BT Retail and he will make an outstanding contribution as chief operating officer at Cap Gemini, a company which we partner and admire. I would like to pay tribute to Pierre’s winning spirit, and to thank him for the part he has played in building an exciting future for BT”.

The chairman of BT Sir Christopher Bland added: “Pierre has made a tremendous contribution to the transformation of BT. His energy and customer focus has been much valued during the past four years. He has now been offered a major new challenge and we all wish him well”.

Pierre Danon will continue to lead BT Retail until early in the New Year. At Cap Gemini he will be responsible for all operational activities covering 60,000 staff worldwide.

BT Group plc