Resignation of Royal Mail Group CEO, Simon Thompson.

You would have heard the announcement earlier today that Royal Mail Group CEO Simon Thompson has resigned from his position.
The CWU welcomes this development as will our members and representatives.

Simon Thompson is one of the key individuals responsible for the financial crisis that Royal Mail Group has created over the course of the last year.

The CEO was also one of the key people responsible for the appalling mantra of ‘It’s our business to run’ that saw the employer openly attack its own workforce on a relentless basis, including developing a culture of imposition which has now created quality of service and USO failures on a scale which threatens the future of the company.

However, we recognise that the CEO was only one of the senior leadership team responsible for the unacceptable actions and behaviours of managers across the UK throughout this dispute. Further change in Royal Mail Group’s leadership team is vital.

It is important that the next Royal Mail Group CEO is somebody who understands the only way to turn around the fortunes of the company is by taking the workforce with them.

Simon Thompson’s resignation as reported on the iNews website

The chief executive of Royal Mail, Simon Thompson, has resigned from his role after a bitter battle with its main union which finally concluded last month.
Mr Thompson, who has been chief executive of Royal Mail since 2021, said he believed it was “the right time for the company to move forward under new leadership” after an agreement was struck between the company and union leaders last month.
The news follows a difficult period at Royal Mail, in which the company was embroiled in a bitter dispute with the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) over pay and working conditions that led to a public war of words and days of strike action.
The announcement of his departure comes weeks after agreeing a deal with the CWU which would see staff get a 10 per cent salary increase and a £5.00 one-off payment. The deal brought to an end a year of postal strikes.
He has been in the role for just two years and will step down by the end of 2023. The union said more change was needed at the top even after his departure.
He will leave the job at the end of October, but will continue to pick up his salary every month for half a year after that in lieu of notice, giving him around £289,000. He will also be in line for a bonus and get to claim up to £17,500 towards legal fees linked to his departure.
In his time in charge, Mr Thompson has overseen the first set of strikes since Royal Mail was privatised and a massive and expensive cybersecurity breach, while he was hauled back in front of MPs who accused him of giving them incorrect information.
Mr Thompson said: “I have been incredibly proud to lead Royal Mail during this crucial period in its 507-year history.
“The changes we have made, the infrastructure we have put in place and the agreements negotiated with our trade unions mean that Royal Mail now has a chance to compete and grow.
“That is what I have always wanted and it is now the right time to hand over to a new CEO to deliver the next stage of the company’s reinvention.
“I would like to thank my team for their support during a difficult and important time of change.”