Consignia chief `has no intention of quitting‘

The chief executive of Consignia has “absolutely no intention” of resigning, the postal group said today amid reports that the Government is to seek a successor.

John Roberts, 57, who has been in the post since 1995 and has worked for the Post Office for 35 years, was said to be determined to get on with his job.

Reports that the Government would shortly begin a hunt for his successor were described by the Department of Trade and Industry as “absolute rubbish”.

A Consignia spokesman said: “He has absolutely no intention of resigning. He has a job to do. He has an agenda and he is getting on with it.

“He has said very clearly what he is going to do and what he is going to achieve. He is getting on with it.”

Mr Roberts is on a 12 month rolling contract but according to colleagues has not talked about resigning despite Consignia’s problems.

The organisation, which is owned by the Government, is losing #1.5 million a day and faces increased competition in the coming months because of controversial proposals by the industry’s regulator PostComm.

Media reports today quoted Whitehall sources as saying Mr Roberts had “reached the end of his natural life” and that he would leave once a replacement had been found.

But a DTI spokesman said: “The story is absolute rubbish.”