Hewitt expands BT role
FORMER trade and health secretary Patricia Hewitt will become BT’s new senior independent director, the telecoms giant said yesterday.
Hewitt, who takes up the new role next month, is expected to be a key contact for major institutional shareholders.
The MP for Leicester West, who retires from Parliament at the next general election, has sat on the board of the company since last March. She was paid £75,000 by BT last year, which is likely to rise to £110,000 next year.
Shareholders have expressed concerns about BT’s £4bn pension fund deficit, its halved dividend and its Global Services IT consultancy division, which posted an operating loss of £2.04bn last year.
Hewitt remains an adviser to Cinven, the private equity group, and Alliance Boots, the privately owned chemists chain.