BT's chief boffin resigns

BT's chief technologist, Peter Cochrane, has resigned after earlier complaining of the "constraints" involved in working for the telco.

Professor Cochrane, who headed BT's research efforts, has left to set up the UK arm of investment company, Concept Labs. However he will still retain links with BT and work with them on specific projects.

Cochrane, who received an OBE last year, has been at BT since joining after after school in 1962 when it was still part of the Post Office. In a colourful career he had a hand in most of the technology developments in telecommunications over the last 30 years and become well known for his outspoken views about the future of technology.

His more 'out there' ideas such as the abolishment of the passport in favour of microchips in people's arms were tolerated, but hardly welcomed, by the beancounters at BT.

Despite recent comments by Cochrane in Communications International that he was involved in the creation of technology that regulations prevented BT from using, the telco is keen to stress that the parting was amicable.

A BT spokesman said: "Peter was a 'free spirit' and had outspoken views that weren't always ones that reflected BT's position." ®