Swiss Post and La Poste name international alliance “ASENDIA”
Swiss Post and La Poste announced today that the new alliance of their international mail businesses is to be called ASENDIA. The alliance was sealed officially on 6 July after the two companies received regulatory approval from the European Commission.
Bringing together Swiss Post International with La Poste Global Mail, the joint venture company “ASENDIA by La Poste and Swiss Post” will be equally owned by the Swiss and the French national postal operators.
In a statement, the firms said they aim particularly for the new business to become a leader in international business-to-consumer mail solutions.
The company’s services are being marketed under the motto “The world is your address”, with the website www.asendia.com.
Marc Pontet, who was deputy chief executive in charge of marketing and sales for La Poste Global Mail’s Courrier division, has been appointed ASENDIA chief executive.
Pontet said: “The creation of ASENDIA enables La Poste and Swiss Post to bring together the best of their expertise and solutions in order to offer their international clients innovative solutions and to accompany them in their development.”
The new firm will boast more than 1,000 employees worldwide, with more than 25 locations in 15 countries in Europe, North America and Asia. It will handle all international mail solutions, from dispatch and delivery of mail and small packages to downstream services in the value chain.
Marc Pontet (left) has been appointed CEO of ASENDIA, while the new company’s board will be chaired by Ulrich Hurni
Turnover is expected to be in the region of EUR 400m a year, as the company pursues a market worth more than EUR 10bn in 2011, with strong growth seen in areas like direct mail, catalogues and small goods up to 2kg.
ASENDIA will not be involved in cross-border mail flowing into or out of either France or Switzerland, and will not participate in universal postal services within the two countries.
Operations
Swiss Post and La Poste originally announced their plans for the alliance back in December 2011, deciding that operating together would allow them to better compete with the major players in the international mail market.
ASENDIA will have locations in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK and the United States.
Operating from headquarters in Paris and Berne, the new firm’s board will be led by chairman Ulrich Hurni, who is the Swiss Post deputy chief executive and head of Swiss Post’s PostMail division.
Other board members will include La Poste Group deputy CEO Nicolas Routier as vice chairman, along with head of Swiss Post Solutions Frank Marthaler, La Poste Group CFO Xavier Girre, head of Swiss Post PostLogistics Dieter Bambauer and Geopost Group COO Europe Christian Emery.
ASENDIA’s management will, along with CEO Pontet, include Daniel Bättig (previously head of international mail at SPI) as deputy CEO, CFO and executive director for Asia, and also Béatrice Roux (previously CEO at La Poste Global Mail) as deputy CEO and executive director Europe.
