Consignia confirm Leighton's appointment as chairman

Consignia — formerly the Post Office — has confirmed the appointment of Allan Leighton as interim chairman. He takes over from Neville Bain, whose contract expired at the end of last year and his tenure will last three to four months until the Department of Trade & Industry find a successor. He has been a non-executive director of Consignia since April last year. “With our people, we have much to achieve quickly,” the former Asda chief executive said. “This arrangement will ensure that there is no pause in the pace of change.” Leighton’s appointment comes on the eve of talks between Consignia and the Communication Workers Union to try to avert a strike. The union is seeking a 5 pct pay increase for 140,000 workers and a commitment that basic pay will be a minimum of 300 stg a week by October 2003. The Royal Mail has offered a rise of 2 pct, which could be improved if service targets were met. When Leighton exited Wal-Mart Stores Inc-owned Asda, he decided in his own words to ‘go plural’ picking up directorships at Lastminute.com and BHS.