Royal Mail wants boss for christmas
Troubled postal service Royal Mail expects to name its new chief executive before Christmas. The state-owned organisation revealed the news as it stayed tight-lipped over a report that the managing director of Atherstone-based parcel carrier TNT, Alan Jones, was on a shortlist to become its new chief executive.
Royal Mail said its chairman Allan Leighton had targeted four potential candidates for the job, but declined to say who they were. A spokeswoman said: ‘Mr Leighton has said publicly that he has about four people on a shortlist, but we don’t know any more than that.’
Mr Jones, if he were appointed, would succeed John Roberts, who retires next month. The appointment of a strong chief executive is seen as vital as the struggling mail operator tries to fend off the threat of financial collapse or serious industrial action. Mr Jones has won the respect of the City for lifting productivity and profits at TNT, with a strong emphasis on training and staff development.
Mr Leighton has been quoted as saying the race for the job is ‘still pretty open’.
The Royal Mail spokeswoman stressed that, although Mr Leighton has responsibility for the appointment, final approval comes from Department for Trade and Industry.
