Author: Archive
PalletForce grows by 25%
PalletForce plc reported a 25% increase in turnover to £5.03m for the year ended August 31, 2005, compared with £4.02m in 2004.
The Lichfield-based network’s pre-tax profit rose 7.0% to £1.25m for the year, compared with £1.17m in 2004.
Business Post wins FedEx contract renewal as restructuring makes progress
British express parcels carrier Business Post has won a major boost with the extension of a vital FedEx contract as it makes progress on its ongoing restructuring. Shares in the company rose strongly on the news, closing up 9.9% at 383 pence on March 31. Business Post announced that FedEx Express had renewed its contract as Global Service Participant in the United Kingdom. Business Post’s existing five-year contract will be replaced with a new five-year contract, with effect from 3 September 2006, on similar commercial terms. Chief executive Guy Buswell commented: “We are delighted that we will continue to act as a key partner for FedEx Express in the UK. FedEx Express has confirmed that our high service levels and new advanced IT solution were central factors in the decision and this renewal is therefore a significant achievement on the part of our new operational management team. Sustaining high levels of service for all customers represents the foundation stone for our overall business performance.”
Read MoreAustrian Post builds up new parcels management team
Austrian Post has made two senior appointments at its parcels and logistics division as it gears up to enter the B2B parcels market later this year. The Austrian postal operator has named Max Moser as joint head of the parcels and logistics unit together with Sonja Stockmayer.
Read MorePrice of UK first class stamps to rise
The price of a first class stamp will rise by two pence to 32p from today. The increase is part of the Royal Mail’s bid to work out future financing as it deals with competition since the postal market was opened up in January. But the firm has been reined in from costing its stamps too high by its regulator Postcomm, until 2010 when first class stamps will go up to 37p. The price rise will also see first Class franking prices go up to 31p, second class stamps up to 23p, and a second class franking price will be introduced at 22p. The Special Delivery service will increase by 25p to GBP4.10 for mail up to 100g.
The modest increase will enable the Royal Mail to modernise its operations, secure the nationwide delivery service and help to plug its GBP4 billion pension fund deficit.
Italian post office inches toward IPO
As anyone who has sent a letter in Italy can attest, postal delivery service can be a maddening exercise in patience. But Massimo Sarmi, the chief executive of Poste Italiane SpA, came to New York earlier this week with a contrary message: The Italian postal company is shaping up, becoming technologically savvy and readying for a multibillion euro initial public offering as soon as the end of 2006. Poste Italiane is advancing technologically and preparing for a multibillion euro initial public offering, possibly by the end of 2006.
It’s not the first time Italy has floated the idea. Efforts to shape up Poste Italiane and privatize it date to the late 1990s, when a plan of layoffs, automation and new electronic services were intended to bring it to breakeven status by 2001. In another thrust, an IPO was projected in 2002 within 18 months, an effort in which the government would have sold 35% of Poste Italiane for about EUR2.5 billion, valuing it as a whole at nearly EUR6 billion. Those prior efforts have been delayed. The latest plan calls for the National Treasury to sell 20% of the company, reducing its 65% stake to 45%, Sarmi said.
Swiss Post to continue job cuts
Swiss Post intends to continue to cut over 1,000 jobs a year in the coming years, director Ulrich Gygi said on April 2, 2006 in an interview for Swiss weekly SonntagsZeitung. Swiss Post employed a total 41,073 persons in 2005. As a result of the streamlining programme in the mail order sector, Swiss Post will cut nearly 2,400 jobs by 2009. Furthermore, the company will restructure its postal offices network. According to Gygi, the postal company spent between 30 mln Swiss francs (USD22.9 mln/19 mln euro) and 40 mln francs (USD30.5 mln/25.3 mln euro) in 2005 for the development of social plans for the affected employees.
Read MoreDHL Global Mail Adds Americas Region Responsibilities to Joe Phelan, USA President and Chief Operating Officer
DHL Global Mail announced today that current USA President and Chief Operating Officer, Joe Phelan, will add responsibilities for the entire Americas region. In addition, Mr. Phelan has been named as a board member of the DHL Global Mail International Board. He continues to report to Klaus Knappik, Chairman of the DHL Global Mail International Divisional Board.
“With a background in the airline and logistics industries, Joe brings more than 25 years of experience, visionary style and inspired leadership to DHL Global Mail,” said Klaus Knappik, Chairman, MAIL International Divisional Board. “Adding the responsibilities for the entire Americas region is a natural growth progression, particularly given Joe’s international experience.”
Joe Phelan was tapped in February 2005 to fill the role of USA President & Chief Operating Officer of DHL Global Mail.
Prior to that, Joe was Senior Vice President, Marketing & Commercial Affairs, providing strategic leadership during the three company integration of Deutsche Post Global Mail, SmartMail and QuikPak and was the driving force behind the brand launch of DHL Global Mail in October 2004.
Before joining DHL Global Mail in July 2004, he was Managing Director, Europe, American Airlines, and was based in the United Kingdom. Previously, Joe was Vice President, Cargo Operations, American Airlines.
Joe holds a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Dallas, and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from California State University.
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