Simon Thompson appointed as new Royal Mail CEO

Former Ocado director Simon Thompson has been appointed chief executive of Royal Mail, the company confirmed on Monday.

Thompson, already on the letter and parcel carrier’s board as a non-executive director, replaces former boss Rico Back, who left last year after resistance to his reform plans.

Mick Jeavons, interim chief financial officer for the group since last May 2020, will continue in that position on a permanent basis and will join the Royal Mail board as a director with immediate effect, the company said. Interim chief executive Stuart Simpson will leave at the end of January following a short handover period.

Keith Williams, who has been acting as interim executive since May 2020, will revert to being non-executive chair.