Curtin rules out serving beyond term as An Post search continues

As the search for a new chief executive continues at An Post, the incumbent Donal Curtin has ruled out serving beyond his departure date of July 13th.

Speaking at a meeting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Communications, Mr Curtin said he came to the company to do a specific job and his term ended on July 13. He was responding to remarks by Labour TD Tommy Broughan, who asked whether he might extend his term in certain circumstances. Mr Curtin said the appointment was strictly a matter for the board.

In a speech delivered to the committee, Mr Curtin made it clear he would not be serving beyond the July date. "As the committee is aware, I will be finishing my term as chief executive on July 13th, having completed my contract," he said.

It was learned in recent days that John Foley, chief executive of Waterford Crystal, has turned down the job as chief executive. At least one other leading candidate Eircom commercial director David McRedmond withdrew his applications and is no longer interested.

The company holds a board meeting this Thursday, the last before Mr Curtin departs.

A new chief executive is supposed to be announced at this meeting but, with Mr Foley turning down the position, it is not clear whether the company now has a chief executive in mind. Some sources have suggested international candidates like Elmer Toime, the former head of the New Zealand postal service, may be in the frame.

During a wide ranging presentation, Mr Curtin warned that An Post was not necessarily clear of all financial problems. "The company now has major change agreements signed with all of the trade unions in the company. I cannot over-emphasise to the committee the importance of delivery of those agreements.

"Without delivery, particularly from the CWU, An Post will suffer major financial and business damage which will inevitably drag it back to the dark days of 2001-03."

Mr Curtin said mail volumes were destined to fall for many years. He said there were still problems at the company's mail centres because some staff suddenly went absent during big sporting events like the World Cup.

Last night ComReg, which regulates the company, said only 74 per cent of standard mail was delivered by the next day, compared to a target of 94 per cent.

It said mail posted outside Dublin going to the capital was only achieving a 71 per cent next day deliver rate. An Post contested the figures and said its measurement system indicated an 87 per cent next day delivery rate.

ComReg and An Post have long disagreed on the most accurate system for measuring delivery performance by the service.