Deepak Chopra has been appointed as the new President and CEO of Canada Post for a five-yearmandate, effective February 1, 2011, with the company’s postal union also hoping for a positive
change.The mail industry expert takes over from Stewart Bacon who replaced former CEO Moya Greene on atemporary basis when she left to join Royal Mail.
Until recently, Chopra was the president and CEO of the Canada and Latin America region atPitney Bowes in Toronto. Over his career, Chopra held several executive positions at Pitney Bowes,including that of president of the newly created Asia-Pacific and Middle East region, andvice-president of the Finance and Operations Branch for the Europe, Africa and Middle Eastregion.
Rob Merrified, Canadian Minister of State (Transport) who announced the appointment yesterday,said that the country’s postal operator will benefit greatly from Chopra’s dynamic leadership. “His15 years of executive experience in providing operational excellence and innovation in the mailingindustry will ensure that Canada Post continues to build on the progress already made towardsproviding postal services that Canadians can count on, maintaining rural service and protecting themail.”
Chuck Strahl, Canadian Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, was also pleasedabout Chopra’s appointment: “His extensive experience in dealing with government and postalofficials around the world, as well as his vast knowledge of the regulatory bodies governing themailing industry will definitely be a strong asset to the corporation.”
The announcement of the new Canada Post CEO and President comes at a time when negotiations areunderway with the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), Canada Post’s largest union.
The union said it is hoping the new boss will mean some positive changes to the way things arebeing done. Denis Lemelin, National President of CUPW, said: “We have requested a meeting withDeepak Chopra to introduce ourselves and highlight some key concerns. We think the corporationneeds a management that understands that Canada Post is, first and foremost, a public service. Italso needs a management that is willing to sit down with the union and solve problems.”
According to the union, Canada Post has demanded a large number of concessions at the urbanoperations bargaining table. “It is also implementing a controversial modernisation programme thathas negatively affected services, jobs, and health and safety for workers across the country. Whiledeclining mail volumes are being cited as a reason for pushing these changes, postal workers arehoping the new CEO will consider all the options,” CUPW added.
“Service expansion needs to be part of this discussion,” Lemelin stressed. “Canada Post couldexpand the services it provides to the population and generate the revenue it needs for the future.It could add banking, expand parcel delivery, extend door-to-door delivery and increase retailservices. The corporation has recently made some small moves in this direction but it could bedoing much more. Other postal administrations around the world are dramatically expanding servicesand we would like to see Canada Post take this positive direction.”
Coming into effect on Monday, Canada Post’s stamp prices increased from 57 cents to 59 cents forstandard letters weighing up to 30 grams. Postage to the U.S rose three cents to $1.03 whileoverseas letters rose five cents to $1.75.
