Joe Garner to leave BT and head up Nationwide

The head of BT Group's local access network division Openreach is leaving to become chief executive of Nationwide.

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Joe Garner will take up the position at the mortgage and savings provider in spring 2016.

BT Group said on Monday that one of Garner’s key roles during his 22 month tenure has been overseeing BT's deployment of superfast fibre broadband.

The FTSE 100 communications company also said he has relentlessly focused on customer service and operational improvements, driving through changes to help the division hit or exceed all 60 service targets set by Ofcom.

"I've greatly enjoyed my time at Openreach, and deciding to leave has been an extremely hard decision,” he said.

“But Nationwide is a firm I long-admired during my time in financial services. The opportunity to become CEO of one of Britain's most important financial institutions and service champions just proved too good to turn down.”

BT Group chief executive Gavin Patterson said he is sad to see Garner leave, but said he is moving to a terrific job.

“Openreach is a stronger and more customer focused business as a result of his leadership and he leaves it in good shape as we begin our ultrafast journey."

The company said Garner’s successor will be named in due course.