BT Regulatory News (BT.A)

KAREN RICHARDSON TO JOIN BT BOARD

Karen Richardson, a San Francisco-based technology executive, is to join the BT Board as a non-executive director. Her appointment takes effect from November 1 2011.

During Karen's 25 year career in the technology and software industry she has held key positions in several successful technology-driven companies. Karen is currently on the board of Hi5 Networks Inc, a social networking website, and VirtuOz, a software company, and she was previously a board member of i2 Group (purchased by IBM in 2011). Recently, she was an adviser to Silver Lake Partners, a private equity firm focused on the technology sector. From 1998 to 2005 Karen worked for the NASDAQ-listed software company Epiphany Inc, latterly as chief executive officer. In her early career Karen held a series of roles in technology companies such as Netscape Communications Corporation, Lotus Development Corporation and 3Com Corporation.

Karen has a strong reputation on the West Coast not only for her leadership and experience with early stage companies, but also for her work ethic and insights on changing consumer needs and dynamics.

In welcoming the appointment, BT's Chairman, Sir Michael Rake, said: "Karen has valuable experience in US technology and internet businesses and her strong analytical and strategic skills will help to strengthen the diversity of the Board and help us build a better future for all our stakeholders."

Karen added: "This is a very exciting time in the technology sector and I am very much looking forward to joining the Board and engaging in the challenges and opportunities facing the communications services industry ahead."

Karen Richardson biography

From 2008 - September 2011, Karen Richardson was chairwoman of Hi5 Networks Inc , the sixth-largest1 online gaming site in the world with 21.7m unique monthly visitors.

Karen is on the board of VirtuOz, a provider of virtual agents for service and sales, and until July 2011 was an adviser to Silver Lake Partners, a $15bn private equity investment firm focused on technology companies. Karen also sat on the board of i2 Group, a provider of intelligence and investigation management software for law enforcement, defence, national security and private sector organisations. From 1998 to 2005 Karen was with Epiphany Inc, a NASDAQ-listed company developing customer relationship management software. Karen was executive vice president of worldwide field operations through 2003, and was then promoted to chief executive officer.

Karen is also an advisory board member of Stanford Technology Ventures Program and Proofpoint Inc, a provider of email security and compliance products.

Karen is married, is a US citizen and holds a BS in Industrial Engineering from Stanford University.

 1 According to comScore Media Matrix, April 2011.

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BT is one of the world's leading providers of communications services and solutions, serving customers in more than 170 countries. Its principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to our customers for use at home, at work and on the move; broadband and internet products and services and converged fixed/mobile products and services. BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, BT Retail, BT Wholesale and Openreach.

In the year ended 31 March 2011, BT Group's revenue was £20,076m with profit before taxation of £1,717m.

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