UK watchdog Ofcom appointed Ben Verwaayen as a non-executive member of its board in a move that will see the former BT CEO regulating his former employer.

Verwaayen (pictured) also previously served as CEO of KPN and Alcatel-Lucent as well as chairman of Endemol, a Dutch media company.

In 2013, he left Alcatel-Lucent, having failed to deliver a turnaround at the vendor, which had reported a 2012 loss.

He is currently a general partner at investment fund Keen Venture Partners and holds various other board positions, including Bharti Airtel in India.

Last year it was reported that Verwaayen was looking to raise €200 million to invest in “early-stage technology groups”.

Ben Verwaayen and journalist Bill Emmott, a former editor of The Economist, will take up their positions from later this month for a period of four years.

They replace Tim Gardam and Mike McTighe, who are stepping down from the board having each served two terms.

Ofcom’s non-executive directors are appointed by the UK’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

In December, Ofcom announced that Sharon White, currently a senior civil servant at the treasury, will replace Ed Richards as its chief executive in March this year.