Ben Verwaayen, the former chief executive of BT Group, is understood to have turned down a top job at Alcatel-Lucent as the world's largest telecoms equipment supplier searches for new leadership after the resignation of its chairman and chief executive last week.

Alcatel-Lucent was forced to start a search last week after Patricia Russo, the group’s US chief executive, and Serge Tchuruk, its French chairman — architects of the 2006 merger between French Alcatel and American Lucent Technologies — both said they were resigning.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Mr Verwaayen was approached to take the helm but turned it down.

Mr Verwaayen, who left BT in May this year, spent four years at Lucent Technologies in the US, rising to vice-chairman on the management board, having been executive vice-president and chief operating officer.

The Dutchman, who is credited with transforming BT from a troubled company struggling under debt of £30 billion into a powerhouse, is not commenting on his current job hunt.

But industry sources say taking up the reins at Alcatel-Lucent could be regarded as a step backwards.

Mr Verwaayen was once seen as a possible contender for the role of Lucent's chief executive after the resignation of Rich McGinn in 2000. Henry Schacht, Lucent’s former chairman, was recalled to the post.

When Mr Verwaayen announced in April he was standing down as head of BT, he said it was "highly unlikely that I will sit and relax", but said he was not seeking a big role in a telecoms company.

"BT is the best business in telecoms, so it is highly unlikely that I will stay in telecoms," he said.

Industry sources say Alcatel-Lucent is unlikely to seek successors internally, and the two posts may be combined into one.

Thierry Breton, a former French Finance Minister and a former chief executive of France Telecom, and Philippe Germond, chief executive of technology company Atos Origin, are considered front-runners for the post, industry sources told the Journal.

A spokesman for Alcatel-Lucent would not confirm whether the company had approached Mr Verwaayen and declined to comment on any contenders.