Research and development chief appointed as BT's regional director for the East of England
The head of BT’s research and development laboratories at Adastral Park, Suffolk, has today also been appointed the company’s regional director for the East of England.
Dr Tim Whitley pledged that BT’s resources and high-tech expertise would make a huge contribution to the future success of the region.
“As managing director of the BT Labs, I see the great benefits that technology can bring and I am determined to make the most of our considerable knowledge and resources to benefit the East of England as a whole,” he said
Dr Whitley, 50 will lead the BT East of England regional board and direct BT’s activities to ensure the company remains one of the region’s leading investors and employers. Among the company’s achievements in the East of England is the creation of a high-speed fibre broadband network that is already available to more than 2.4 million homes and businesses, and continuing to grow rapidly.
“Technology that has been developed right here at the BT Labs now underpins BT’s roll-out of superfast broadband across the UK. We’re now working on the next generation of ultrafast services to keep the UK at the top of the broadband league tables,” he said.
“BT is also a major employer in the region - employing more than 9,000 local people and boosting the area’s economy by millions of pounds every year.”
“At Adastral Park, We’re home to 3,000 BT scientists and engineers and more than 80 other high-tech companies, employing more than 700 people. Together, we form the growing Innovation Martlesham technology cluster. Research happening right here in Suffolk is helping to shape the future, not only across the region, but also around the world.”
As managing director for research and innovation, Dr Whitley is accountable for all of BT’s global innovation scanning and research activities. He is also managing director for Adastral Park, the growing Suffolk technology cluster and home of BT’s global research and engineering headquarters, near Ipswich.
Dr Whitley said: “BT has been an innovation pioneer for 170 years and we continue to unlock new opportunities, nowhere more so than Adastral Park, our global research and development campus in Suffolk. Embracing new technology and promoting innovation is vital for everyone. East Anglia is gaining a reputation as the UK’s ‘Silicon Valley’ and Adastral Park is increasingly recognised as a regional technology hub.”
Tim joined BT in 1981 as an apprentice engineer and during his 35 year career has held many positions ranging from roles in advanced optical-fibre device and network research, technology consultancy and architecture to BT Group Strategy Director. He has authored or co-authored over 50 peer reviewed papers in the field of optical communications, holds a BSc in Physics and a PhD in electronic systems engineering. He was awarded the honour of being one of the first BT Distinguished Engineers.
Tim is also a Policy Fellow with the Centre for Science & Policy, University of Cambridge, a board member of the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and lives in Felixstowe with his wife and four daughters.
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