Ben has recently been named CEO of Paris-based Alcatel-Lucent SA, the world's largest supplier of fixed-line phone networks. He was appointed to the Board of BT Group in the United Kingdom in January 2002 and served as Chief Executive from February 2002 to June 2008. He chaired the company’s Operating Committee. Ben was formerly Vice Chairman of the management board of Lucent Technologies in the USA from October 1999. He joined Lucent in September 1997 as Executive Vice President international and became Chief Operating Officer the following month. Prior to joining Lucent, Ben worked for KPN in the Netherlands for nine years as President and Managing Director of its telecoms subsidiary, PTT Telecom. From 1975 to 1988, he worked for ITT in Europe. Ben is a Dutch national.