Openreach announces Board and executive changes
Summary by AI BETAClose X
12 November 2026
Openreach announces Board and executive changes
- Mike McTighe stepping down as Chair, succeeded by Michael Jary
- BT Group CFO Patricia Cobian and telecoms veteran Andy MacLeod joining the Openreach Board
- Jamie Vague to become Openreach CFO, succeeding Matt Davies on the Openreach Board
Openreach, the legally separate, wholly owned subsidiary of BT Group plc, today announced changes to its Board and executive team.
After ten years in the role, Mike McTighe will step down as independent Chair of Openreach on 31 March 2027. He will be succeeded by Michael Jary, currently an independent non-executive director of Openreach.
Mike became Openreach’s first independent Chair in 2016. He pioneered its greater independence, strengthening relationships across the market and championing the investment in Full Fibre that has made Openreach Europe’s largest Full Fibre network provider. His tenure has spanned a major transformation of the business, with improvements in customer service, Full Fibre extended to almost 25 million homes and businesses, and more than 10 million customers connected to the new network.
Michael Jary joined the Openreach Board as an independent non-executive director last year, bringing significant experience and expertise in corporate strategy, government and regulation alongside a strong customer focus. He will lead the Board as Openreach delivers its Connect the Nation strategy, investing in the UK’s digital infrastructure and serving all its customers on equal terms.
Michael’s other board roles include non-executive director of Barclays Bank UK and Chair of Kensington Mortgages, and he will become Chair of the National Audit Office in January 2027.
Meanwhile BT Group Chief Financial Officer Patricia Cobian will join the Openreach Board as BT Group’s nominated non-executive director from 1 December 2026, replacing Simon Lowth, who recently retired from BT. Andy MacLeod will also join the Openreach Board as a non-executive director from 1 December 2026. Andy’s previous roles include Group Chief Networks Officer at Vodafone, Chief Technology Officer at Verizon Wireless and Chief Operating Officer at both Eircom and Cable & Wireless.
Adam Crozier, Chairman of BT Group, said: “Mike has made an outstanding contribution as Openreach’s first independent Chair. He’s been a strong and steady guiding hand through an unprecedented transformation of that business, helping establish its independence, strengthen relationships across the market and champion the investment that’s now transforming the UK’s digital infrastructure. He leaves an amazing legacy for both our business and the country and, on behalf of the BT Group Board, I’d like to thank him for everything he’s done.
“Meanwhile Michael is an excellent successor, bringing significant Board, government and regulatory experience – so we know that Openreach will continue to build on that legacy and deliver for all its customers. I’m also delighted Patricia and Andy will be joining the Openreach Board as it moves into its next chapter.”
There will also be a change to the Openreach executive team with Matt Davies leaving his role as Chief Financial Officer at the end of December 2026 to be succeeded by Jamie Vague, currently BT Group FP&A Director, who will also replace Matt on the Openreach Board. Openreach’s General Counsel, Belinda Bagge, will meanwhile take on the additional role of Openreach Company Secretary following the departure of Jon Furmston.
Notes for Editors
Openreach is legally separate from, but wholly owned by, BT Group. It has its own Board, with an independent Chair and a majority of independent members, responsible for setting its strategy and overseeing its investment and performance. Under the Commitments made to Ofcom in 2017, Openreach operates with greater strategic and operational independence, with its own staff, management and strategy. It determines its priorities and spending within an overall budget agreed with BT Group, and must treat all communications provider customers equally, without favouring BT Group’s own businesses. The Openreach Board Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee monitors compliance with the Commitments, while Ofcom’s Openreach Monitoring Unit provides external scrutiny of BT and Openreach’s compliance.
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