Prime Highlights:
- Katie Milligan will become the new CEO of BT Openreach on April 1, 2026, taking over from Clive Selley.
- Milligan is committed to connecting communities and promoting digital inclusion across the UK.
Key Facts:
- Milligan has been with Openreach since 2009 and was previously its commercial director, overseeing superfast fibre and business broadband projects.
- She is a founding member of the Connection Project and actively mentors women in technology through Openreach’s Lumina programme.
Background:
Katie Milligan, an Ardrossan native, has been appointed as the new chief executive officer of BT’s Openreach, the UK’s largest broadband network operator. She will take over from Clive Selley on April 1, 2026.
Milligan, currently deputy CEO, joined Openreach in 2009 and has previously served as its commercial director. In that role, she led major projects including the design and delivery of superfast fibre services and high-bandwidth solutions for businesses and large organisations. She will now lead the company through its next phase of growth and digital expansion.
Clive Selley, who has guided Openreach through a decade of significant investment and transformation, will step down at the end of March. Both Milligan and Selley will work closely in the coming weeks to ensure a smooth transition.
A graduate of the University of Strathclyde’s Business School, Milligan is also known for championing digital inclusion and gender equality in technology and engineering. She is a founding member of the Connection Project, a national initiative that aims to ensure all communities in the UK thrive in a digital society. She also mentors women in the tech sector, including through Openreach’s Lumina development programme in India.
Allison Kirkby, CEO of BT Group, welcomed Milligan’s appointment, saying her “experience, strong leadership, and operational skills make her the right person to lead Openreach.”
Milligan said she was excited about the new role and highlighted the importance of connecting communities and promoting digital inclusion. “At Openreach, we make the connections that matter,” she said.
Openreach is important for the UK’s digital network, and Milligan will lead it with a focus on new ideas, inclusion, and keeping the country connected.
