LONDON (AP) — Ben Verwaayen, chief executive of British telecommunications company BT Group PLC, will step down at the end of May, the company said yesterday.

Ian Livingston, currently chief executive of BT Retail, will succeed as chief executive on June 1.

Verwaayen, who joined the company in January 2002, will also leave the BT board on June 30.

"Ben has been an exceptional CEO whose courage and leadership has transformed BT from being a deeply troubled organisation into a thriving business with global capability and a clear strategy for the future," company chairman Sir Mike Rake said.