Post Office appoints two new Non-executive Directors to the Board

Emma Branch and Richard Hawkins, two new Non-Executive Directors, have been appointed to the Post Office Board.

The appointments represent two additional Non-Executive Directors who will sit on the Post Office Board and who bring expertise in specific fields to help support the transformation of the Post Office as it delivers a ‘New Deal for Postmasters’.

Emma Branch has over 25 years of experience in business management, strategic leadership, organisational change and transformation programmes. Ms Branch is the former CEO of The Counselling Foundation, a leading provider of charitable counselling and psychotherapy services and during her time there undertook a postgraduate diploma in psychotherapy and counselling. Previously Ms Branch was a Partner at KPMG and worked there between 2008 and 2020 providing professional services across multiple business sectors.

Richard Hawkins brings over three decades of experience as a Non-Executive Director, Chief Information Officer, Chief Technology Officer & co-founder, board advisor, and transformation and risk consultant with extensive experience predominantly across banking and financial services. Mr Hawkins worked at HSBC for over 20 years.

The appointments follow the recent election of two new Postmaster Non-Executive Directors to the Board. Brian Smith and Sara Barlow were elected.

Post Office Chair, Nigel Railton, said:
“I’m delighted to welcome Emma and Richard to the Board. Emma will help us deliver transformational change within a people and organisational development setting. Richard has a proven track record in designing, developing and delivering complex large scale digital programmes involving new system implementation. Both bring a wealth of expertise and experience to help us deliver our ‘New Deal for Postmasters’.”

Commenting on her appointment, Emma Branch said:
“I am pleased to have been appointed to the Board as the Post Office implements its ‘New Deal for Postmasters’. Key to that will be ensuring the Post Office creates an organisation that can effectively deliver a sustainable future network for its postmasters and the communities they support. I look forward to sharing my experience in this sector with the Board and with the Post Office more broadly.”

Commenting on his appointment, Richard Hawkins said:
“It is a privilege to join the Post Office as it embarks on a significant transformation programme to deliver a ‘New Deal for Postmasters’. Core to this will be ensuring postmasters benefit even more from the vital cash and banking and mails services that the Post Office provides along with having the systems in place that make it easier and more efficient to operate as a postmaster. I look forward to sharing my experience in the technology and transformation space with the Board and with the Post Office more broadly.”