Directorate Change

RNS Number : 0162P

Royal Mail PLC

03 June 2015

 

Royal Mail plc

Directorate Change

03 June 2015

ROYAL MAIL PLC APPOINTS CHAIRMAN-DESIGNATE

The Board of Royal Mail plc (RMG.L) is pleased to announce the appointment of Peter Long as a Non-Executive Director and Chairman-designate. Mr Long will join the Board as a Non-Executive Director on 18 June 2015 and will stand for election at the Company's Annual General Meeting on 23 July 2015. He will succeed Donald Brydon as Chairman on 1 September 2015.

Mr Long has over 20 years' experience in FTSE 100, customer-focused companies. He is currently Joint Chief Executive of TUI AG. TUI has already announced that in February 2016, it is planned that Mr Long will step down as Joint Chief Executive and will assume the role of Chairman of its Supervisory Board.    

Mr Long was appointed following a comprehensive search process, led by Senior Independent Director Orna Ni-Chionna with the assistance of an executive search firm. A number of candidates were interviewed by a sub-committee of the Board and the decision was taken by the Board, on the recommendation of the sub-committee. Once appointed as Chairman, Mr Long will be paid £300,000 per annum on a pro-rata basis.

Donald Brydon said: "I will be pleased to hand over to Peter in September, and will work closely with him in the coming months. His many years of experience in customer-focused companies will complement our diverse Board as Royal Mail continues its transformation."

Peter Long said: "Royal Mail is one of the most recognised companies in the United Kingdom and I am delighted to be both joining the Board and taking over as Chairman in September.  I look forward to working with Moya Greene and her management team as the Group - with a clear focus on its customers - continues its transformation programme, delivers on its strategic objectives and generates long-term sustainable shareholder value."

Orna Ni-Chionna said: "I am very pleased that we have appointed someone with the right combination of skills and experience to take over from Donald Brydon, who has chaired this company supremely well over the past six years. All of us on the Board look forward to working with Peter."

Moya Greene, Chief Executive Officer, Royal Mail plc., said: "Peter Long brings with him a proven track record in transforming the fortunes of large and complex companies and I look forward to working with him. Donald Brydon has led our Board through a period of tremendous change at Royal Mail and we are all most grateful for his wisdom and counsel during this key time for our Company."

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Notes to editors:

Peter Long: From 2007 to 2014, Peter Long was Chief Executive of TUI Travel PLC and from 1996 to 2007 he served as Group Managing Director and then Chief Executive of First Choice Holidays PLC.  Prior to joining First Choice he was Chief Executive of Sunworld and the travel division of International Leisure Group.  His past Non-Executive Directorships include RAC plc, Rentokil Initial PLC, where he was the Senior Independent Director and Debenhams PLC.

Donald Brydon, CBE: Donald Brydon was appointed to the Board on 27 January 2009 and became Chairman on 26 March 2009. Donald had a 20-year career with Barclays Group, during which time he was Chairman and Chief Executive of BZW Investment Management and acting Chief Executive of BZW, followed by 15 years with the AXA Group, including holding the posts of Chairman and Chief Executive of AXA Investment Managers and Chairman of AXA Framlington. He has since chaired several FTSE 100 companies, in addition to his experience of a wide range of domestic and international industries. Donald is Chairman of Sage Group plc.

Enquiries:

Company Secretariat Kulbinder Dosanjh Phone: [phone]   Email: [e-mail] Media Relations Mish Tullar Phone: [phone] Email: [e-mail] Royal Mail press office out of hours: 0203 338 1007 Investor Relations Catherine Nash Phone: [phone] Email: [e-mail]

 

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