Chairman of UK Post Office Ltd appointed

Mike Hodgkinson, the outgoing chief executive of BAA plc, has been appointed Chairman of Post Office Limited, the retailing business of Royal Mail Group, it was announced today.

His appointment to the Royal Mail Board was announced in November last year as one of four new non-executive directors. Mr Hodgkinson will take up his additional role on May 1 and he will also become the Royal Mail Board’s senior independent director.

Allan Leighton, Royal Mail Group’s Chairman, today warmly welcomed the appointment.

“I am delighted Mike Hodgkinson has accepted this crucial leadership role. The Post Office network is undergoing unprecedented change. It is expanding its range of services, especially in the banking and financial sector, but over the next two years, nearly 15 million of its customers will have their benefits paid directly into bank accounts. Mike will play a vital role in ensuring the UK’s largest retail chain continues to be at the heart of communities nationwide as it manages these far-reaching changes,” said Mr Leighton.

Mr Hodgkinson said: “The Post Office network is cherished by its customers. I am looking forward to the challenge of leading the business to a long-term sustainable future, as well as contributing to the Board as it continues to implement its renewal plan to make the company a great place to work for all its employees, drive up customer service and return the company to profitability.”

Ends

Notes to Editors
1. Mr Hodgkinson (58), has been a member of the BAA plc board for 11 years, and was appointed Chief Executive in October 1999. He is a Board member of the Commission for Integrated Transport, a director of FKI plc, and his other positions include the chairmanship of the Airports Advisory Council and membership of the Transport for London Committee. He announced in early February he was stepping down as Chief Executive of BAA plc in June 2003.
2. Post Office Ltd, whose Chief Executive is David Mills, has an annual turnover of almost £1.3 billion and 28 million customers visit its 17,500 branches every week.

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