Interview with Alan Jones, managing director of TNT
Question 1: Head of Deutsche Post World Net Klaus Zumwinkel recently said that his company’s biggest competitors, were not postal operators, but UPS, FedEx and TPG. Are the postal companies now your biggest competition or will they be?
We focus on achieving continuous improvements to achieve high levels of customer satisfaction and do not spend time worrying about other carriers.
Question 2: Across the board, profits have been down. Can you explain why, and what repercussions this will have?
Our profits are not down and indeed continue to increase. The recent profit growth generated by TNT Express outperforms all other carriers many of whom seem to be going backwards judging by various profit warnings announced in recent months.
Question 3: FedEx and DHL have formed alliances with USPS, TNT has an obvious alliance with the Dutch PTT Post, and Deutsche Post owns a majority of DHL. Do you see alliances and acquisitions as a continuing trend?
The impressive profit growth achieved by TNT Express in the last two years has been organic and we are concentrating on numerous further internal improvements throughout the business.
Question 4: What benefits do you believe alliances with postal operators can bring?
We do have a number of successful alliances and joint ventures with several post offices that help to feed our international express delivery network with compatible traffic.
Question 5: Do you forsee a blurring of definition between blurring of definition between the posts and the major express companies?
Most post offices offer express delivery services and we can assist these organisations to improve customer satisfaction by allowing them access to our unique door-to-door international network for their express consignments.
Question 6: What are your views concerning the liberalisation of the postal industry?
We believe competition is good for the industry and it also benefits users of postal services.
Question 7: How far would you like to see the postal industry open up and do you believe express companies could fulfil some form of universal service obligation?
TNT Express carries time-sensitive business-to-business consignments and we do not wish to use our specialist facilities to provide a universal service that by definition would require us to handle large volumes of private house delivery traffic.
Question 8: Some courier companies have been or are involved in litigation with postal organisations and against other express companies. Why so quick to turn to the courts?
We aim to avoid litigation at all times and our company operates within the law.
Question 9: Where do you see your company position in the global market and what are your ambitions for the next five years?
Our vision is to be the fastest and most reliable carrier. We will continue to deploy our winning formula and aim to provide the highest levels of customer satisfaction in the express delivery industry.
Question 10: To what extent do you wish to infiltrate the postal market; could express companies be accused of cherry picking?
Please see our answer to question seven.
