Athalie Williams is leaving the telecoms giant after less than two and a half years in the role - bhp

BT has parted ways with its human resources (HR) chief after less than two and a half years in the wake of embarrassment for the company over its diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) policies.

The Telegraph has learnt that Athalie Williams, BT’s chief people and culture officer, is stepping down.

She will be replaced by Alison Wilcox, who previously served as the telecoms giant’s group HR director before taking up non-executive positions in the NHS.

BT said Ms Williams was departing for personal reasons and said her departure was unconnected to recent developments on its DEI targets.

The executive is understood to be going back to her native Australia to spend time with her family. Allison Kirkby, BT’s chief executive, paid tribute to Ms Williams upon her departure and personally thanked her.

The BT HR role is hugely influential, given the telecoms giant employs more than 90,000 people.

The change in personnel comes after several incidents that put BT’s human resources policies under scrutiny.

The company last month dropped the diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) measure in its manager bonus scheme – which accounted for 10pc of the incentive – and replaced it with a measure of employee engagement.

BT said it was making the change with “strong support” from shareholders. However, the move was in direct contrast to comments from Allison Kirkby, BT’s chief executive, who criticised other companies for watering down their DEI targets in the wake of Donald Trump’s re-election.BT chief Allison Kirkby criticised companies for watering down their DEI targets in the wake of Donald Trump’s election - Pau Barrena/Bloomberg

In a memo to staff earlier this year, she said: “I believe we need to be as diverse as the customers we service, to be the customer-centric company we aspire to be and to be able to live up to our purpose.

“When we determine to be inclusive, we create an environment where everyone, no matter their background or characteristics, feels respected, valued and like they belong.”

In a further embarrassing incident, it emerged that BT had spent more than £1m on a leadership guru for senior executives who fell asleep in meetings.

Dan Spiwack, the chief executive of US-based JMW Consultants, was brought in on a nine-month contract to offer training to top bosses. However, he was soon branded a “running joke” internally after repeatedly falling asleep because of heart medication he was taking.

Ms Kirkby is understood to have appointed Mr Spiwack on the recommendation of BT’s HR department following an open procurement process. The contract was not renewed.

BT said that neither the incidence nor the dropping of DEI targets had any bearing on Ms Williams’s departure.

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Operations overhaul

BT’s chief executive has been attempting to shake up the lumbering telecoms behemoth since taking over the top job early last year.

She has made a number of senior leadership changes and is trying to refocus BT on its core mobile and broadband offerings.

This includes shelving plans to ditch BT as the company’s flagship brand for millions of consumers and carving out the group’s international operations ahead of a potential sale.

Ms Kirkby is also pushing ahead with plans to cut tens of thousands of jobs by the end of the decade.

In a further sign that BT is refocusing on its core offering, the company is reportedly closing in on a deal to sell its 50pc stake in TNT Sports to joint venture partner Warner Bros Discovery.

The sale of the channel, formerly known as BT Sport, would end the company’s expensive foray into sports broadcasting after more than a decade.

BT moved into sports under Gavin Patterson, then-chief executive, in the hope that winning sought-after rights would help boost its broadband customer numbers. However, competing against Sky in the areas has proved costly.

The strategy overhaul comes amid pressure from Sunil Bharti Mittal, the Indian telecoms billionaire who last year became the company’s largest shareholder.

Mr Mittal has built a 24.5pc stake in BT and has summoned executives for meetings as he uses his investment to exert influence, though BT has insisted that he is supportive of its strategy.

BT’s shares are up more than 50pc since the start of Ms Kirkby’s tenure in a sign that investors have welcomed her pledge to slash costs and scale back heavy investment in broadband infrastructure.

She will face another key test of her progress on Thursday morning when BT announces results for the full year.

A BT spokesman said: “Athalie Williams, chief people and culture officer, has decided to return to her family in Australia and retire from executive life to pursue a portfolio career. She will continue to support on her handover to Alison Wilcox, who will return to BT to take on this role from June 1.

“We remain committed to our inclusion and representation aspirations to better reflect the customers and communities we serve, and we are making good progress towards them. We have received strong support from our shareholders on the proposals to amend our group scorecard.

“BT Group works with external advisors to support strategic programmes, and following a competitive procurement process engaged JMW Consultants to deliver projects focused on enhancing leadership performance. These projects took place over the course of 2024, and concluded at the end of year.”

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