(Reuters) - International Distributions Services (IDS) named Heathrow executive Emma Gilthorpe as the new CEO of its Royal Mail (LON:IDSI) business on Tuesday.
Gilthorpe, currently chief operating officer at Heathrow airport, will join Royal Mail from May 1. Heathrow's Chief Financial Officer Javier Echave will replace Gilthorpe, the airport operator said.
WHY IT'S IMPORTANT
Gilthorpe will be tasked with turning around loss-making Royal Mail that has been grappling with sliding letter volumes and trying to regain market share, while improving relations with the postal and delivery company's largest labour union.
CONTEXT
The previous CEO of Royal Mail, Simon Thompson, stepped down last year after his tenure was marked by a lengthy pay dispute with the company's labour union - Communication Workers Union.
Martin Seidenberg, who will continue as interim CEO of Royal Mail until Gilthorpe joins the group, took over as IDS chief executive last year.
KEY QUOTES
"Emma has an impressive track record of delivering major strategic change programmes whilst driving up performance," Seidenberg said.
"Emma leaves behind an operation that is performing well," Heathrow CEO Thomas Woldbye said.
WHAT'S NEXT
Heathrow added that Sally Ding will become acting CFO as it looks for a permanent replacement.