BROADBAND and phone provider Plusnet has appointed a new chief executive as Jamie Ford steps down after three and a half years.

Andy Baker has taken over the reins of the Sheffield-based business, which was the lead sponsor of York’s inaugural Yorkshire Marathon this year.

Mr Baker took up the post this afternoon, and will now take full responsibility for the commercial, operations and service performance of the Internet Services Provider that in the last year has grown its market share by 17.4 per cent.

Joining Plusnet from BT, Mr Baker has for the last two years been the chief executive for BT Wi-fi, managing five million hotspots in the UK.

Mr Baker said: “Plusnet offers me a hugely exciting task in a very challenging market place. The company has been going from strength to strength in recent years and I am looking forward to growing its reputation even further.”

Mr Baker, 41, takes over from Jamie Ford, who during three and a half years in charge, steered Plusnet through what the company describes as “an enormous period of growth”.

Under Mr Ford’s leadership, Plusnet has quadrupled its workforce, become a multi-site operation and gained five consecutive Which? recommendations for products and services.

Mr Ford, who leaves to join BT Business as managing director of IT Services, said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Plusnet and am proud of the achievements the company has made during my time here.

“Andy has an excellent reputation within the industry and a proven track record of taking very complex telecoms technology and creating and delivering these into simple solutions that customers really want. He is a huge asset to Plusnet and I wish him every success.”

Plusnet has been based in Yorkshire for its entire 16 year history and has recently opened a second site in Leeds.

The home phone and broadband company employs close to 1,000 people across its two sites and has launched an apprenticeship scheme in Customer Service this Autumn.