Royal Mail announces four major appointments
Royal Mail Group has announced a number of high level personnel appointments within its business. The move sees two newcomers arrive at the comapany, whilst there have been promotions for two further executives.
Matthew Lester has been appointed group finance director and has also been appointed to the Royal Mail Group Board. He is currently group finance director at ICAP plc, and previously held a number of senior finance roles at Diageo plc. He will be joining Royal Mail later this financial year.
John Duncan will join Royal Mail Group on 1 November as group human resources director. He was previously senior vice president, human resources at Canada Post and has 35 years experience in the postal industry. His responsibilities at Canada Post included health and safety and industrial relations, as well as strengthening both the culture and the level of employee engagement across the organisation.
Dave Smith has been appointed chief customer officer for Royal Mail Group. His remit will be to strengthen even further the focus on Royal Mail’s customers throughout the Group. His previous roles within Royal Mail Group include managing director of Post Office Ltd and managing director of Parcelforce Worldwide. He will continue to be a member of the Royal Mail Group Board.
Paula Vennells has been appointed managing director of Post Office Ltd and has also been appointed to the Royal Mail Group Board. She was previously chief operating officer at Post Office Ltd, with responsibility for sales, customer channels and maintaining the UK’s national network of Post Offices. Vennells will report to Dave Smith to ensure a smooth transition for the business in light of the proposals within the government’s Postal Services Bill to retain the organisation in public ownership after separation from Royal Mail Group and to consider the opportunity for a mutually owned Post Office.
Chief executive Moya Greene said: “These appointments will further strengthen the Royal Mail team and improve our focus on our customers and our people at a particularly challenging time. I feel honoured to be leading such a great company, responsible for such vital services across the UK, and I am delighted to have such a strong team working with me.”
