Louis Hughes Join Board as Non-executive Director

British Telecommunications PLC
8 December 1999



             LOUIS R HUGHES TO JOIN BT BOARD
                            
BT today announced that Louis R Hughes, an executive vice
president of General Motors, is to join the BT board on
January 1, 2000, as a non-executive director.

     Sir Iain Vallance, chairman of BT, said: 'I am
delighted to welcome Lou Hughes to our board.  He will
bring with him vast experience in the management of
global and multi-cultural business operations which will
be invaluable to us in the rapidly changing world
telecommunications industry.'

     Louis R Hughes is currently also chairman of the
board of Saab Automobile AB, a member of the supervisory
board of Deutsche Bank AG and a member of the board of
directors of Electrolux AB.


Biographical note

Louis R Hughes, has been executive vice president of
General Motors Corporation - the world's largest
industrial corporation with sales of almost $180 billion
- since 1992, and has been in charge of business
development since 1998.  As such, he is one of four
executives who comprise the office of the chairman, and
is responsible for the development of new business
strategies including high technology fields, mergers and
acquisitions.  He also manages GM's relationships with
major business partners such as Isuzu, Suzuki, Daewoo,
Saab and Shanghai Auto.

     Formerly he was president, GM international
operations and president, GM Europe, as well as holding
senior financial positions with the corporation.

     Along with his other present directorships, he has
served as a member of the international business leaders'
advisory council for the Mayor of Shanghai, and as
president of the board of directors of the Swiss-American
Chamber of Commerce.

     Louis R Hughes, who is 50, is married with two
children and lives in Chicago.


(FOR STOCK EXCHANGE PURPOSES )

LISTING RULE 16.4 (a)
Directorships of publicly quoted companies held in the
last five years.

Current Directorships:
Deutsche Bank AG
Electrolux AB
Saab Automobile AB

LISTING RULE 16.4 (b)
Not applicable