An Post Retail’s new Managing Director is to be Debbie Byrne.

An Post described An Post Retail in a statement last week as “the new stand-alone business charged with securing a successful future for the Post Office Network by transforming and re-imagining the business and making it more relevant and useful to a broader range of customers”.

The new appointment follows the decision to split the Irish postal operator into two business units – An Post Mails & Parcels (which is the delivery company), and An Post Retail (which includes the Post Office and online service).

Reporting to An Post Group CEO, David McRedmond, Byrne has full P&L responsibility for An Post Retail, determining and leading initiatives to meet “market challenges, transforming the operation into a more commercial, customer-focused business centred on three key areas: out-of-home e-commerce (the development of the traditional mails and parcels business in Post Offices), Government services, and financial services”.

Byrne will also have responsibility for An Post’s strategic Brand development.

David McRedmond, An Post Group CEO, commented: “I am very pleased that we have been able to attract a candidate of Debbie Byrne’s calibre and experience to lead the new An Post Retail team.

“The Post Office network is a vital public service in every community across the State. Debbie and the team will re-invigorate and re-imagine the network to ensure it is viable and relevant for the long-term.

“In addition to Debbie’s role as Managing Director of An Post Retail, I am delighted that Debbie, as one of Ireland’s leading marketeers, will oversee An Post’s brand development.

“Together with the recent appointment of Garrett Bridgeman to the role of Managing Director of An Post Mails & Parcels, I believe An Post now has secured excellent leadership for its two core businesses.”