New Swiss Post CEO to take a “holistic view” of the company and its strategy
Roberto Cirillo took up his position as the new Swiss Post CEO earlier this week. He takes on a challenging role with the decline of mail and significant drop in profit from PostFinance and PostBus in 2018.
The 48-year-old from Ticino takes over from Ulrich Hurni, who has been the interim CEO of Swiss Post since June 2018.
At a press conference earlier this week Cirillo said he wants to intensify dialogue with policymakers and the owner. “I want to listen to all those who are prepared to work with us on the Swiss Post of the future.”
This is not a question of tackling specific challenges, such as that of PostFinance or the decline in over-the-counter transactions individually. He wants to understand Swiss Post’s DNA and then develop the strategy for the coming years.
A holistic view of Swiss Post will be taken: “We need to look at the overall picture.” Now is the time to gain a full view of the range of services and financing of the universal service of the future. “I believe in a strong and self-financing universal service. I believe in a Swiss Post that creates equal opportunities, helping to ensure that all Swiss citizens have the same chances in life.”
Roberto Cirillo will assume the operational management of the Group after Swiss Post’s General Meeting on 16 April 2019.
Post & Parcel reported the news of Cirillo’s appointment last November when Swiss Post’s Board of Directors appointed him.
“I am delighted to join Swiss Post,” says Cirillo. “It is a unique company that is firmly embedded in Swiss culture.” And that will remain the case in future. “I’m not just concerned about economic viability, but also how Swiss Post benefits society – for people in Switzerland,” adds Roberto Cirillo.
Swiss Post has already been named as the world’s best postal service on two occasions. “I want Switzerland to be proud of Swiss Post and its service- and customer-oriented approach. I want people to feel proud that Swiss Post is right here for everyone, now and, most of all, in the future.”
Bedding in
The new CEO will gain detailed insight into Swiss Post over the coming weeks. “I will not be doing this from headquarters,” he promises. Instead, he will visit employees throughout Switzerland.
Cirillo firmly believes that “They are not just the face of the company, they are Swiss Post.” The employees also understand customer requirements better than anyone.
Urs Schwaller, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Swiss Post, is delighted with the appointment of Roberto Cirillo: “Roberto Cirillo will successfully lead Swiss Post into the future. He has all the attributes required. He can count on a good team – and on around 60,000 highly motivated Swiss Post employees who perform their tasks professionally day in, day out.”
At the press conference, Urs Schwaller thanked Ulrich Hurni and the members of Executive Management on behalf of the whole Board of Directors. “Ulrich Hurni gave Swiss Post and its employees exactly what they needed during this difficult period: stability, calmness and security.
“I have tremendous respect for what he has achieved over recent months and his huge commitment,” adds Urs Schwaller.
