New BT regional director pledges to help Yorkshire and the Humber lead the way with super-fast fibre broadband

The new regional director for BT in Yorkshire and the Humber today underlined the boost his company’s multi million pound investment in high-speed broadband communications will bring the region. 

Senior executive Tom Keeney said that by the end of this year more than one million homes and businesses in Yorkshire and Humber would have access to fibre broadband. 

“I am determined to do everything I can to ensure the region is able to capitalise on this multi million pound investment,” he said. “Research has shown that fibre broadband can provide a major boost for communities, helping to create new businesses and jobs as well as offering new development and learning opportunities for local households.” 

Tom will be leading the BT Yorkshire and Humber board, a team of 12 senior executives based in the region, who ensure BT’s activities continue to play an important part in the region. 

He said: “BT is a major employer in Yorkshire and the Humber, employing more than 7,000 local people and boosting the area’s economy by hundreds of millions of pounds every year. 

“We are committed to this region. Our supply chain head office is in Northallerton, we have large office spaces or contact centres in Leeds, York and Doncaster and spend substantial amounts each year with local suppliers. 

In his 25-year BT career Tom has worked in a variety of roles. He is currently BT’s director of workforce management so he is committed to doing as much as he can to generate employment, both nationally and in the region. 

Tom added: ‘I am proud that I have spent much of my time over the last few years working to create new roles and job opportunities in BT. Even when economic times have been tough we have managed to bring in new people to BT including many ex armed forces, graduates and apprentices.” 

Tom has lived in Yorkshire for nearly 20 years and loves the area and its people. 

“Both my children were born here in the region and attend schools in York. As a family we love the area and the people. It has the perfect mix of town, country and coast.” 

Trevor Higgins, BT’s regional partnership director for Yorkshire and the Humber, said: “I have known Tom for most of the 20 years he has lived in the region and am sure he will prove to be a tremendous asset in his new role. I look forward to working with him in the years ahead, as we continue to work hard to help Yorkshire and the Humber become the UK’s leading region.” 
As the new regional director, Tom is determined to encourage and help everyone in the region enjoy the benefits of faster broadband speeds. 

“As more and more people get connected to the fibre broadband network, it’s increasingly important that those living in our more rural areas don’t miss out. 

“We are very keen to work with the public sector to help those locations outside our commercial roll-out of fibre broadband. 

“The Superfast North Yorkshire project, of which BT is a major partner, has shown that we are prepared to invest millions of pounds more to take faster broadband to as many people as possible.” 

Tom, 48, is married with a daughter and a son. He has a Masters degree in Telecommunications Management from University College London and spends his spare time with family or playing golf at Fulford in York. 

Tom is also a Trustee of a charity, the BT Benevolent Fund, which is committed to helping people who have fallen on tough times by providing short term financial support. 
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