EDS veteran brought in to steady BT's global services arm

Jeff Kelly steps in as BT Global Services chief executive

BT appoints potential Global Services saviour

BT has appointed veteran ex-EDS manager Jeff Kelly to replace Hanif Lalani as head of its troubled Global Services division.

BT chief executive Ian Livingston said: "Hanif took over as CEO of Global Services at a difficult time for the division."

The "difficult time" Livingston highlighted saw big write downs in the value of Global Services contracts in 2009, as well as thousands of job cuts.

Despite such setbacks, BT credits Lalani with "stabilising" the division, and he is expected to stay on with BT until the end of March "to assist with a smooth transition of responsibilities".

US citizen Kelly's most recent role was in running the $10bn IT services business for EDS in the Americas, and his tenure as Global Services chief executive will start with immediate effect, added BT.