Dutch postal firm hires FD to raise its media profile

TPG – the group that runs the Dutch postal service and TNT Logistics – has hired Financial Dynamics for profile-raising support in a bid to capitalise on plans to open up Europe’s postal market.

The move follows failed merger talks between TPG and Consignia and comes as UK postal regulator Postcomm announces plans for market liberalisation.

Postcomm this week confirmed it was delaying proposals to end Consignia’s monopoly, originally planned to start this year, but now delayed until 2003.

TPG has briefed FD with handling a profile-raising campaign targeting the financial community in its key markets, focusing mainly on the UK, with additional work in New York and Frankfurt, where the group is listed.

TPG director of media relations Tanno Massar said: ‘Due to the developments in the mail market, the UK is an area we would like to increase our presence in, and this needs communications support.

‘Their (FD) brief is to focus on the UK markets to act as our eyes and ears, to act as our local press office and build our corporate profile in the UK.

He added: ‘In addition, we are rolling out an international campaign to raise the profile of TPG in major financial markets.’

The FD account team reports to Massar and investor relations director Jon Downing.

TPG is seen as one of Consignia’s future rivals in the UK postal market.

The group already has a UK staff base of more than 15,000 and owns express mail group TNT Logistics.