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Indian origin Leena Nair to join BT Board

BRITISH Indian Leena Nair will join the BT board as a non-executive director.

The top Unilever executive will also serve as a member of the remuneration, nominations, digital impact and sustainability committees of the group.


Her appointment takes effect from the end of BT’s annual general meeting on July 10.

Nair brings broad functional HR expertise to the BT board. She has an outstanding record in driving large scale change and transformation.

She has been chief human resources (HR) officer at Unilever, since March 2016 where she has overall responsibility for the global people agenda for Unilever’s 160,000 employees.

Nair is also a member of Unilever’s leadership executive.

Indian origin Nair has been a non-executive director of the UK department for business, energy and industrial strategy since 2018 and is the chair of its nominations and governance committee.

BT’s chairman Jan du Plessis, said: “We are delighted to welcome Leena to BT. She brings a deep understanding of the strategic and practical challenges of driving large scale cultural transformation, making her an excellent addition to the Board.”

Prior to her current role, Nair held a number of senior HR roles at Unilever.

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London tourist levy

The capital recorded 89 m overnight stays in 2024

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London to introduce tourist levy that could raise £240 million a year

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Highlights

  • Government expected to give London powers to bring in a tourist levy on overnight stays.
  • GLA study says a £1 fee could raise £91m, a 5 per cent charge could generate £240m annually.
  • Research suggests London would not see a major fall in visitor numbers if levy introduced.
The mayor of London has welcomed reports that he will soon be allowed to introduce a tourist levy on overnight visitors, with new analysis outlining how a charge could work in the capital.
Early estimates suggest a London levy could raise as much as £240 m every year. The capital recorded 89 m overnight stays in 2024.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to give Sadiq Khan and other English city leaders the power to impose such a levy through the upcoming English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. London currently cannot set its own tourist tax, making England the only G7 nation where national government blocks local authorities from doing so.

A spokesperson for the mayor said City Hall supported the idea in principle, adding “The Mayor has been clear that a modest tourist levy, similar to other international cities, would boost our economy, deliver growth and help cement London’s reputation as a global tourism and business destination.”

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