A serving Postmaster is to get a seat on the Post Office Board, as the company tries to put the Horizon IT scandal behind it.
The new Non-Executive Director will stand up for the interests of more than 8,000 of their fellow Postmasters.
Nick Read, Chief Executive at the Post Office, said the move sent “the clearest signal yet” of the PO’s determination to reset its relationship with Postmasters.
The relationship was soured when faulty Post Office software caused shortfalls in some branch accounts, leading to accusations of theft. A number of Postmasters were bankrupted as a result, while others ended up in prison. The Post Office agreed to pay out £58m to settle the dispute last December.
To help mend fences further, a separate consultation will launch in the autumn asking how Postmasters and other branch operators want to be involved in the development and execution of business decisions. This will include options to establish regional or thematic forums that could advise and influence business decisions.
Read added: “We also want Postmasters to advise and influence business decisions, ensuring we shape the future of the Post Office together. Our consultation will ensure every Postmaster has the chance for their views to be heard, and help us get this right.”
The two new measures are in addition to the existing relationship the Post Office has with The National Federation of SubPostmasters.
