The week that was: 10 December 2010
Donahoe unveils new USPS team, Italy and Russia in postal link-up, and PostFinance cuts off Wikileaks founder… Hello news fans. We have kindly picked out the top three stories (as we see them) from the post and parcel industry this week. Let’s jump in.
With his first week in his new role drawing to a close, Patrick Donahoe, the new USPS postmaster general, has announced his management team. The executives will “work directly with him in creating a more profitable, nimble US Postal Service, able to compete aggressively in the marketplace and provide exemplary customer service”, the company said. The executive leadership team includes: Paul Vogel, president and chief marketing/sales officer; Megan Brennan, chief operating officer; Joseph Corbett, chief financial officer; Tony Vegliante, chief human resources officer; Ellis Burgoyne, chief information officer; and Mary Anne Gibbons, general counsel. After the announcement, Donahoe said: “The challenges we face as an organisation require that we do many things differently in the coming years and that we drive change at a faster pace than we ever have. We must break down structural challenges to change and empower our executives, managers and employees to achieve at a higher level. This team is uniquely qualified and capable of leading the Postal Service through a time of great challenges and opportunities. I have great confidence in their ability to work together to drive beneficial change to improve our competitive posture.” We wish them well.
A big deal was signed in Russia this week as it was revealed Poste Italiane will aid Russian Post with its quest to modernise its vast postal network. Poste Italiane’s managing director Massimo Sarmi and the general manager of Russian Post Alexander Kiselev put pen to paper on the agreement on Thursday. Under the terms of this commercial agreement, signed during the Italy-Russia bilateral summit currently under way in the city of Sochi on the Black Sea coast, Poste Italiane Group will provide Russian Post with the skills and know-how required to modernise the network of 40,000 post offices, to optimise the logistics network, and to introduce online financial services and mobile phone services. “This agreement is the confirmation of the understanding already reached in Moscow in March, and sets in motion the operational phase,” said Sarmi. “For Poste Italiane this is a particularly important objective, and is a matter of great satisfaction for us, as it offers the opportunity to contribute to the modernisation programme.”
Staying in Europe, PostFinance dealt the founder of Wikileaks another blow this week by shutting down his bank account. Swiss Post’s financial arm closed the account belonging to Julian Assange, after it was revealed that he provided false information regarding his place of residence when opening the account. The hugely controversial site, publishing secret US diplomatic cables, has been in operation since last month. Assange claimed he was residing in Geneva when opening the account, which is believed to be false. A statement from PostFinance said: “The Australian citizen provided false information regarding his place of residence during the account opening process. Assange entered Geneva as his domicile. Upon inspection, this information was found to be incorrect. Assange cannot provide proof of residence in Switzerland and thus does not meet the criteria for a customer relationship with PostFinance.” Assange was arrested by British police on Tuesday over sexual assault claims in Sweden.
And finally….
The first volume of PosTech Express – the official newspaper of the PosTech event – is now available to read online. Have a look and let us know your thoughts. Click here.
