Barrie takes on IPC director role
Alan Barrie has been appointed as director of operations and technology at the International Post Corporation (IPC). The IPC is a cooperative association of 24 member postal operators in Europe, North America and the Asia-Pacific region.
Over the past two decades IPC has collaborated with its members to upgrade the quality of mail service by developing technology systems that bring transparency to the mail processing system and delivery chain.
Barrie will take over the position form Ross Hinds, who will retire in September after 20 years at the IPC.
A start date of 1 July 2011 has been set.
Previously, Barrie developed Royal Mail’s operational transformation strategy as its operations strategy & design director, based upon process change, infrastructure rationalisation and the application of large-scale IT to letter mail operations.
“Posts are facing tough economic, regulatory and competitive pressures,” said Barrie. “We must think creatively about how we apply technology and build upon existing IPC platforms in a changing marketplace. There’s no reason why we can’t offer our members and their customers best in class services to take on these challenges and thrive into the future.”
Commenting on Barrie’s appointment, IPC president and CEO Herbert-Michael Zapf said: “We are delighted to welcome aboard Alan, whose calibre and experience in redesigning Royal Mail’s infrastructure to help it modernise and optimise postal technology will be a key asset for IPC, its members and customers.
“It was difficult to find someone to take over the reins from Ross, whose 20 years of service have been instrumental in shaping IPC’s Operations and Technology programmes. In Alan I am confident that we have found the best person to deliver the innovations in operations that will help move the industry forward”.
Barrie began his career in logistics and distribution with TIP Ltd. He then worked in the Royal Mail letters division in a range of operational roles, later moving to Post Office Ltd. where he became the change & IT director, leading the successful restructuring of its point-of-sale system, connecting all UK post offices to UK banks and establishing the platform for the rapid growth of postal banking activities.
IPC represents the majority of the world’s mail, with its members delivering about 80% of global postal volumes.
