BT’s new regional manager will help unlock “huge potential” of the South West

A North Devon man with more than 24 years experience in information and communications technology has been appointed BT’s new regional manager for the South West. 

Father-of-four Paul Coles, aged 47, from Bideford has pledged to use his new role to help unlock “the huge potential of the region”. 

He said: “This is a very exciting time for BT and the South West. BT’s roll-out of super-fast fibre broadband across the region is now really starting to pay dividends. It’s already making a big difference to the way many people live and work whether they are starting up their own businesses, making their existing businesses more efficient and competitive or using it for leisure or educational purposes. 

“Already, more than 1.4 million South West homes and businesses have access to fibre broadband and that figure will continue to grow as we complete our commercial roll-out by the middle of this year and work with super-fast broadband partnerships throughout the region to make the technology even more widely available. 

“With its superb environment and skilled workforce the South West has huge potential, which the new super-fast technology is helping to unlock. There is no doubt in my mind that the world-class communications network which is being created today will play a vital role in the future success of the region.” 
BT is one of the South West’s largest private sector employers with around 5,500 direct employees and it spends around £100 million a year with the region’s suppliers. 

Paul joined BT in 1989 after being educated at Park School, Barnstaple. He has held a variety of senior roles in business development, sales and change management often working with local and regional government. 
He replaces Michael Dunn who has retired from BT after a career spanning about 30 years. 

Paul is a single figure handicap golfer, a surf life saving coach and a keen fund raiser for Bideford Bay Surf Life Saving Club. 

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