GAVIN

Patterson’s last day as BT chief executive on Thursday will coincide with the telecoms giant’s thirdquarter results.

The 51-year-old will hope he can go out on a high before passing the reins to Philip Jansen, former boss of payments firm Worldpay.

Analysts are expecting revenues to slide 2.3 per cent from last year to £5.93billion, with underlying earnings around the same level at £1.82 billion. BT’s largest shareholder Deutsche Telekom, long rumoured to be a potential suitor, will certainly be watching closely. Its three-year lock-up deal preventing it making a bid for BT expires on Tuesday.