BT appoints BCG partner Michael Sherman as Strategy & Transformation Officer

BT has appointed BCG Partner Michael Sherman as its first Strategy & Transformation Officer. Sherman begins life in his new role at the beginning of May 2018, having previously led BCG’s Technology, Media and Telecommunications practice in the United States.

Technological disruption and changing consumer behaviour have continued to affect top telecommunications players in recent years. The industry has seen revenues border on stagnation over the past decade, at 0.4% annual growth since 2008. While the industry is keen to develop new digital services and models to meet market challenges, they face a range of barriers – meaning the recruiting of talent specialising in innovative software and technology has become a key goal for the industry, as it bids to fight off challenges from the likes of WhatsApp and Facebook.

International telecom firm BT Group has announced the appointment for its newly-created Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer position. Michael Sherman specialises in three sectors: Telecommunications-Media-Technology(TMT), Digital and IT, and private equity consulting (PE). As a thought leader on many TMT related topics, he has recently published papers on the future of wireless CapEx, Agile common pitfalls, and Future of Networking with the emergence of software defined networking, among other topics.

Sherman joins the group as of May 1st 2018, arriving from management consulting and business strategy firm Boston Consulting Group. He spent 11 years with the consulting firm, eventually rising to the rank of Partner and Managing Director, and leading BCG’s Technology, Media and Telecommunications practice in the United States.

Prior to BCG, Sherman spent seven years as a corporate officer for a supply chain software company focused on fast-moving consumer goods companies. As Executive Vice President at Viewlocity, he was responsible for managing the international marketing and technology organisations of the firm’s solutions. Sherman also has a BS in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering from Duke University, and an MBA from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business.

Sherman’s new role will see him report directly to the telecom giant’s Chief Executive Gavin Patterson. Sherman will work closely with Patterson, the board and BT’s customer-facing units to develop and drive the company’s strategy, customer experience and transformation programmes. The move is Patterson’s latest hire to his executive team, with the former boss of water regulator Ofwat, Cathryn Ross having joined as BT’s Director of Regulatory Affairs in January, alongside Sabine Chalmers, a former Anheuser-Busch InBev executive, who commences work as General Counsel in April 2018.

Commenting on the imminent arrival of Sherman, Patterson said, “I’m delighted Mike has decided to join BT and become part of my executive team. He will be a fantastic addition who will help us to take our strategy, strategic planning and transformation plans to the next level.”

Michael Sherman himself added, “BT is in a great position [as a] global provider of digital services to multinationals and the UK’s leading provider of broadband and mobile. I’m excited to be able to help drive forward the strategy that Gavin and his team are building and bring further insight and focus.”