BT Group announced it will bring together its enterprise businesses in the UK and Republic of Ireland to accelerate its transformation, simplify its operating model and strengthen accountabilities.

BT’s Business and Public Sector and Wholesale and Ventures are to be combined to create a new business unit, BT Enterprise. Gerry McQuade, currently CEO of the Wholesale and Ventures business, has been appointed to bring together and lead the new organisation.

The new organisation will provide products and services to organisations in the small-to-medium sized business, corporate and public sectors, and provide wholesale services to around 1,400 communication providers in the UK and Republic of Ireland. The business will also include BT’s Ventures business which acts as an incubator for potential new growth areas of the company.

Gavin Patterson, BT Chief Executive, said: “Having brought together our Consumer and EE businesses, this is the next step in the simplification of BT’s operating model. Combining our enterprise businesses will allow us to strengthen the services and products we offer to businesses and sharpen our focus on customer service, through clear accountabilities and by introducing efficiencies. Gerry McQuade has successfully led the Wholesale and Ventures business since its inception in 2016 and is the right person to drive the new organisation forward.”

“Together, our senior management team will ensure that BT realises its full potential, connecting customers in the UK and beyond to next-generation digital communications services, content and networks.”

Gerry will lead BT Enterprise from 1 May 2018 and it will report as a single unit from 1 October 2018.

After five years on BT’s Executive Committee, and 12 years in BT, Graham Sutherland is leaving BT.

Gavin Patterson said: “I’d like to thank Graham for all he has done for BT over the past 12 years. During his time as CEO of the businesses in Ireland and MD of BT Business, he materially improved the profitability and performance of those divisions. Most recently as CEO of BT Business and Public Sector he has successfully led the integration of EE business into BT and the turnaround of our Public Sector division. I wish him all the very best for the future.”

BT’s Global Services unit will continue to provide services to multinational companies operating in the UK and worldwide.