5 November 2003

APPOINTMENT OF NEW CHAIR OF THE POSTAL SERVICES COMMISSION

Trade and Industry Secretary, Patricia Hewitt today announced the appointment of Nigel Stapleton as the new Chair of the Postal Services Commission (Postcomm).

Patricia Hewitt said:

"I am delighted that Nigel Stapleton has agreed to become the new Postcomm Chair.

"Nigel will bring considerable business and financial experience to the role. He takes over the Chair at a time of significant change in the postal market when the regulator has a key role overseeing the opening of the market to give customers access to a wide range of high quality competitively priced services whilst ensuring that all postal users continue to have access to the basic universal postal service at a uniform public tariff.

"In welcoming Nigel I also want to pay tribute to Graham Corbett who as its first Chair successfully presided over the establishment of the Postal Services Commission and was responsible for putting in place the first essential building blocks of a new regulatory regime

"This is the first of two new Commission appointments as we are also recruiting for an additional new Commissioner with particular experience of the postal market. I expect to make a further announcement on this very soon."

Stephen Timms, Minister for Postal Services, said:

"His extensive experience of corporate leadership and of competition in business means Nigel Stapleton is well placed to continue the work begun under the Chairmanship of Graham Corbett to develop and implement an effective regulatory regime for the postal market in the interests of consumers."

Notes for Editors

1. Nigel Stapleton is currently Chair of Uniq plc. Previous positions include Chair of Cordiant 2003; Chair of Veronis Suhler International Ltd from 1999 to 2001, Chair of Reed International plc from 1997 to 1999, Co-Chair of Reed Elsevier plc from 1996 to 1998, Chief Financial Officer of Reed Elsevier plc from 1993 to 1996. He takes over the role of Chair of the Postal Services Commission from Graham Corbett who was appointed as the first Chair of Postcomm in March 2000. Graham's initial three- year appointment was earlier this year extended by a further year. He is currently also a Non- Executive Director of London Stock Exchange plc and of Reliance Security Group. Educated in economics at Cambridge, Nigel Stapleton has also been from 1997 an Honorary Fellow of Fitzwilliam College. He also qualified as an accountant and is an FCMA.

2. This is a part-time appointment based on an average three days a week. The remuneration is £75,000 per annum (calculated as 3/5ths of an annual remuneration of £125,000).

3. The appointment is for initial term of three years. Mr Stapleton will take up post in January 2004.

4. This appointment has been made in accordance with the guidelines of the Office of the Commissioner for Public appointments.

5. Mr Nigel Stapleton has undertaken no political activity in the past five years. He holds no other public appointments.

6. Postcomm - the Postal Services Commission - is an independent regulator. It was set up by the Postal Services Act 2000 and is responsible for ensuring that a universal postal service is maintained, whilst promoting appropriate and effective competition between postal operators in the interests of consumers.

7. Postcomm Commissioners are independent non-executives with a duty to serve the interests of the Commission as a whole, working under the leadership of the Chair. The members of the Commission jointly ensure, through setting policy and through oversight of the executive management by the Chief Executive, that the Commission discharges its responsibilities effectively and efficiently. The Secretary of State plans to appoint an additional Commissioner with postal market experience and expects to make an announcement on this shortly.

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