BT Global Services general counsel and commercial director Tim Cowen is stepping down after 18 years at the company.

Cowen, a former regulatory lawyer at Lovells, joined BT Ignite as head of legal in 1991. Ten years later he became general counsel of successor organisation BT Global Services and subsequently took on the role of commercial director.

He will now set up a cross-industry group known as the Open Computing Alliance, which aims to tackle regulatory and antitrust issues related to government intervention in the markets.

BT Global Services CEO Hanif Lalani said: "I would like to thank Tim wholeheartedly for his contribution and considerable impact on BT over the past 18 years. We will miss his leadership and passion."

Cowen is the current chair of the Confederation of British Industry's competition panel, as well as advising the UK Government on related issues. He is also chairman of the International Association for Contract & Commercial Management.

He is also is a visiting professor at the City of London Law School, where he plans to step up his involvement from September onwards.

BT Global Services has not yet named a replacement, but an announcement is expected shortly.