BT has named telecoms veteran Allison Kirkby as its new chief executive in a surprise move.

Ms Kirkby, who has served as a non-executive director on the board of BT since 2019, will take up the role by the end of January 2024.

She will be paid a base salary of £1.1m, with an annual bonus of up to £2.2m.

Ms Kirkby replaces Philip Jansen, who announced his departure from the former monopoly earlier this month.

While Ms Kirkby had emerged as a contender for the top job, her appointment will come as a surprise to many industry watchers.

Marc Allera, who leads BT’s consumer division, was widely seen as the front runner for the role.

Ms Kirkby has worked in the sector for more than a decade, serving as president and chief executive of Swedish group Telia Company since early 2020.

Prior to that she held senior roles at Scandinavian firms TDC and Tele2, as well as Virgin Media.

Much like her two predecessors, Ms Kirkby also worked as consumer goods giant Procter & Gamble earlier in her career.