UK Post Office: Postmasters really are at the heart of our business
Six serving Postmasters contesting the first ever election to become a Non-Executive Director on the Post Office Board have been announced today.
Voting will open at 9.30am on Monday 22 March and run until 9.30am, Monday 12 April. The electorate, made up of around 8,000 serving Postmasters as well as multiple partners, will be able to select up to two candidates. The election process is being overseen independently by Civica Elections Services.
The appointments are a key milestone in the sustained re-set of the relationship between Post Office and Postmasters that places them front and centre of the business.
The six serving Postmasters contesting the election are:
- Lee Dearn, Postmaster for Sydenham, Belfast, County Antrim
- Mukhtar Goraya, operates two Post Offices (New Eltham, London and Rosherville, Kent)
- Saf Ismail, operates six Post Offices (five in Lancashire – Blackpool Road, Bolton, Heywood, New Hall Lane, Plungington Road) and Farnworth, Greater Manchester
- Elliot Jacobs, operates seven Post Offices (five in London – Camden, Crouch End, East Finchley, Muswell Hill, Stoke Newington) and Hertford and Potters Bar in Hertfordshire
- Jasbir Parmar, Postmaster for Kempston, Bedfordshire
- Sarabjeet Soar, Postmaster for Styvechale, Warwickshire
Nick Read, Chief Executive of the Post Office, said: “Having two serving Postmasters on our Board sends the clearest signal yet of our determination to ensure Postmasters really are at the heart of our business. I am encouraged by the calibre of the six highly qualified candidates and look forward to an open and robust campaign over the three-week election period.
“To sit on the Board of any company carries great responsibility, a responsibility I know our Postmasters will be well placed to fulfil. I have been encouraged by the interest from Postmasters in applying and look forward to working with our two new Non-Executive Directors.”
Key to the success of these appointments is the governance put in place to ensure a transparent and independent selection process. Initial applications were scrutinised by independent recruitment specialists Green Park. Twelve candidates were put forward for interview to an independent panel comprising leading industry figures James Lowman, CEO, Association of Convenience Stores; Shirine Khoury-Haq, CFO at the Co-op Group; and Jean Church MBE, Council Member at the Institute of Directors. The panel shortlisted the final six candidates.
