UK telecoms group BT has denied accusations that former chairman Jan du Plessis was forced out last week because he was holding up the pace of strategic decisions.
The company was forced to issue a statement on Monday after reports last week that chief executive Philip Jansen threatened to leave unless du Plessis was replaced.
It said du Plessis “throughout his tenure has demonstrated strong leadership of the company, been extremely supportive of management and any suggestion that he has impeded the transformation of BT is without foundation”.
“There has been no misalignment between the board and executive management over the company’s strategy.”
Sky News last week reported, citing unnamed sources, that Jansen told fellow directors over several months he had become frustrated with the speed at which BT was taking key strategic decisions.
Du Plessis on March 1 said he would leave once a successor was identified.
