Jeff Kelly, formerly of EDS, is taking on the challenge of sorting out BT's Global Services division.

Kelly most recently ran EDS's services businesses in North America, he's a US citizen and has had a 25-year career with the firm.

Kelly replaces Hanif Lalani a 26-year BT veteran.

Lalani, an OBE, is a former CEO of BT Northern Ireland and has been on the board of BT since 2005. The company credited him with stabilising and beginning the turnaround of the troubled services division. He will stay on until March to aid a smooth handover after which he will leave BT to pursue his own business interests.

BT's Global Services business ran into trouble early last year - it ran up losses over half a billion in the first quarter. ®