UK communications services provider BT has announced that technology industry veteran Oliver Fortuin is replacing Keith Matthews as its sub-Saharan Africa managing director.

The move comes after Matthews last month told ITWeb Africa that he is leaving his post after eight years at the company.

Key developments that Matthews has overseen for BT in Africa include having grown the unit’s staff headcount by three-fold: BT now employs 170 people in South Africa and between 15 to 20 in Nigeria.

During Matthews time at BT, the company also became a key anchor tenant on the FibreCo terrestrial network: South Africa’s largest ever open access underground fibre network.

Matthews last month told ITWeb Africa that he has no plans regarding a future move yet.

Meanwhile, according to a press statement, Oliver Fortuin joins BT from i1 Solutions, where he was in charge of sales and business management for sub-Saharan Africa, in his role as managing director. Prior to that, he has held regional management roles for HP and IBM. Fortuin holds a Masters degree in Business Administration from Open University, UK.

“We are very pleased that Oliver Fortuin is joining us as our new managing director for Sub Saharan Africa. His industry knowledge, background, and strong relationships will be of significant benefit to BT," Kevin Taylor, president, Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa and Turkey, BT Global Services has said in a statement.