One of Ireland’s top marketers, Debbie Byrne, has been appointed as managing director of An Post Retail, the new stand-alone business charged with securing a successful future for the Post Office Network.
She joined the State-owned postal service from Life Style Sports where she was marketing director. She has also worked in marketing roles for other companies, including L’Oreal, Grand Metropolitan and eircom.
The appointment follows the strategic decision to split An Post’s operations into two business units, An Post Mails & Parcels (the delivery service) and An Post Retail (the Post Office and Online service).
Reporting to An Post Group CEO, David McRedmond, the new Managing Director has full P&L responsibility for An Post Retail, determining and leading initiatives to meet market challenges, transforming the operation into a more commercial, customer-focused business centred on three key areas: out-of-home e-commerce (the development of the traditional mails and parcels business in Post Offices), Government services, and financial services. Debbie will also have responsibility for An Post’s strategic Brand development.
According to David McRedmond, An Post Group CEO: “I am very pleased that we have been able to attract a candidate of Debbie Byrne’s calibre and experience to lead the new An Post Retail team.
The Post Office network is a vital public service in every community across the State. Debbie and the team will re-invigorate and re-imagine the network to ensure it is viable and relevant for the long-term.
In addition to Debbie’s role as Managing Director of An Post Retail, I am delighted that Debbie, as one of Ireland’s leading marketeers, will oversee An Post’s brand development.
Together with the recent appointment of Garrett Bridgeman to the role of Managing Director of An Post Mails & Parcels, I believe An Post now has secured excellent leadership for its two core businesses.”
“I’m delighted to take up this new role in one of Ireland’s leading companies, with such a strong, iconic brand and an unrivalled retail network. An Post is unique in its ability to provide innovative, real value and trusted services to communities and businesses all over Ireland. The retail environment is evolving rapidly and so too is consumer behaviour. We have a great opportunity to re-position An Post’s retail business by working with staff, postmasters and business partners to meet new competitive challenges and customer needs through new products, new office formats and retail models.”
