BT 2014 Annual Report Download - page 17

14 The Strategic Report
Purpose and strategy
I consider it a great privilege to be writing to you for the rst time as
Chief Executive.
Im incredibly proud to work for a communications company with a great
sense of purpose and with many talented and dedicated people.
The world is being transformed by communications. They are changing
how we work, how we bank, how we shop and how we think bringing
new ways of delivering healthcare and education reshaping how
governments operate helping to create new businesses and driving
social mobility. BT is right at the heart of this. Our purpose is to use the
power of communications to make a better world.
Businesses that ourish over the long term are ones that have a purpose
thats beyond simply making money. By bringing together our networks
our technology and the hard work and expertise of our people, BT is
able to deliver value for our shareholders and customers and contribute
tosociety.
When I joined BT ten years ago, what struck me most was the companys
history of innovation and the fact that this was a business that
consistently innovated and recreated itself  and that continues to
be true today.
From that very rst wireless telephone call, to our innovations in bre
optics that support global communications, were now where we are
today  with a heartland in the U, the backbone of the countrys
communications infrastructure and with operations all over the world.
Its why weve invested and will continue to invest in
• the rollout of Ƭbre broadband when others have not, because we
believe it can transform lives and is a platform for growth for the whole
of the U. We have one of the fastest bre rollouts in the world and
our bre network now passes around two thirds of U premises
• BT TV and BT Sport, because the trend in the market is clear  our
customers want packages of voice, broadband and T. Im delighted
that in less than one year, we have around 3m direct BT Sport
customers and our service is in around 5m homes
• mobility, because our customers want connectivity wherever they are
• the UK business market and helping multinationals to expand
globally and regionally, because were able to leverage our world-class
capability at managing networks and services to enable businesses to
grow and
• building and maintaining a high performing healthy culture,
because this will create future innovation and opportunities.
All of this is aimed at creating a growing BT and delivering our goal
of sustainable, protable revenue growth for the business. And our
investments are delivering for us. The cumulative eect is that we dont
just help individuals and businesses to grow and prosper  we work as an
engine of growth and prosperity for the economy as a whole.
The way well bring our purpose alive, and deliver our goal, is to execute
on every aspect of our strategy. If we do this, well continue to deliver for
our shareholders, customers and for society.
Weve made strong progress over the last year beating market
expectations and growing revenue, earnings per share and normalised
free cash ow. Our results provide a strong platform to build on in the
years ahead as we continue to focus on improving the service we provide
to our customers and delivering on our investments.
Im really excited about the future and how BT will be right at the heart
of shaping it. Im condent that with the support of our people, well
continue to use the power of communications to make a better world.
Gavin Patterson
Chief Executive
7 May 2014
Chief Executives introduction
Weove made strong progress this year
,om e[cited about the future and how %7
will be right at the heart of shaping it
Watch my video online at
www.bt.comannualreport