BT announced that BT Americas CEO Michael Boustridge is to also lead BT’s Asia Pacific operations. These span 16 countries with over 4,000 direct staff. Boustridge succeeds Allen Ma who retires on 5 January 2009, after four years leading BT Asia Pacific’s operations. Asia Pacific and North America represent important growth markets for BT. Many of BT’s North American customers are looking to expand into Asia, and there is also a rapid shift in the number of Asian companies who are setting up operations in North America. Boustridge will ensure BT makes the most of these opportunities, as well as continuing to sign new customers. Boustridge joined BT in April 2007, and is currently CEO BT Americas where he leads all BT activities and operations in the USA and Canada, including BT INS, BT Counterpane and BT Global Financial Services and an indirect channel centre of excellence. Originally from New Zealand, Boustridge has spent much of his career in the Asia Pacific and is familiar with regional market dynamics and diverse cultures.