New HR chief at BT plans wholesale rethink of work practices

BT Wholesale’s new HR director has told his team to overhaul the communications giant’s working style as it goes through a period of major transformation.

Kevin Brady, who joined from another division of the company at the start of the month, wants his HR staff to “redraw the culture of BT”, and has admitted it will be “a major challenge”.

This month the company begins a £10bn, four-year programme to replace the UK’s telephone network.

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“HR staff need to ensure BT has the right skills and numbers to roll out the programme and ensure a high-performing culture,” Brady told Personnel Today.

“There is currently a culture where people don’t always want to have adult conversations about performance,” he said. “We are training line managers to be able to handle difficult situations.”