UK Postcomm welcomes New Chairman

Postcomm Chairman Graham Corbett today (5 November 2003) welcomed the appointment of Nigel Stapleton as the next chairman of Postcomm. It is expected that Mr Stapleton will take over as Chairman towards the end of January 2004.

Mr Corbett said:- “Mr Stapleton joins Postcomm at an important time. We have, in principle, opened the UK postal market to competition. We now need to tackle various barriers to market entry so that the market becomes open in practice. I therefore welcome the appointment of a successor with Nigel’s energy and broad experience and am sure that he will bring some fresh perspectives to our work.”

Mr Stapleton said:- “Graham Corbett and his fellow commissioners have laid the foundations of a competitive and efficient postal service. Under Graham’s leadership, Postcomm has set the timetable for the introduction of full competition in postal services by 2007– ahead of most of our partners in the European Union. Postcomm has also imposed a tough but fair price control on Royal Mail and is finalising its first access determination. It is an impressive record. I look forward to working with my fellow commissioners to drive forward Postcomm’s important and challenging work.”

Nigel Stapleton's CV
Follow the above link to see Mr Stapleton's CV and a photo.
CV:
Mr Stapleton is Chairman of UNIQ plc. – a Pan
European convenience food company – and also a
non-executive director of the London Stock
Exchange plc. and Reliance Security Group plc.
Prior to taking the role at UNIQ in July 2001, Nigel worked for two years with Veronis, Suhler
Stevenson & Associates Inc. as Chairman of its newly established European affiliate. This
Media Merchant Bank, based in New York, manages a $1 billion private equity fund that focuses
on investments in the media and communications industry and the London office was created to
extend the firm’s activities into Europe.
From March to July 2003, Mr Stapleton was also Chairman of Cordiant Communications Group
plc, where he oversaw a renegotiation of debt covenants, the disposal of three non core
businesses and a £260m sale of the remaining business to WPP Group plc.
Mr Stapleton’s earlier business career was with Unilever for 18 years and with the leading
publishing and information company, Reed Elsevier, for 13 years. He served as Co-Chief
Executive of Reed Elsevier plc from August 1998 until September 1, 1999; as Co-Chairman of
the Company from July 1996 to August 1998 and Chief Financial Officer of that Company from
January 1993 until June 1996. Reed Elsevier was formed in January 1993 through the merger of
the Dutch publisher, Elsevier NV and Reed International. Mr Stapleton was also the Chairman
of Reed International P.L.C., from August 1997 until April 1999 and was the Finance Director of
that Company from November 1986 until June 1996.
Prior to joining Reed International in 1986, Mr Stapleton held a number of planning, finance and
general management positions with Unilever PLC, including Vice President Finance, Unilever
United States Inc, the holding company for Unilever's businesses in the USA.
Mr Stapleton was born in 1946. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management
Accountants, and also has a first class honours degree in economics from Cambridge University.
In late 1997 he was elected an Honorary Fellow of Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge. In June
1999 he was awarded the Freedom of the City of London and he is a Liveryman of the
Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers.