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PostNL CEO Herna Verhagen to Depart

Herna Verhagen, CEO of PostNL, is stepping down after nearly 13 years, leaving behind a legacy marked by both successes and challenges in navigating the changing landscape of the postal industry.

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Dutch

Netherlands

European UnionNetherlandsLeadershipBusinessDigitalizationMail

PostnlAcm (Autoriteit Consument & Markt)BpostSanddVvd

Herna VerhagenPim BerendsenDirk Beljaarts

Why is Herna Verhagen leaving her position as CEO of PostNL?: Herna Verhagen, CEO of PostNL, is stepping down in April 2025 after almost 13 years. She has been lobbying for a relaxation of the 24-hour mail delivery rules, arguing they are outdated and that most non-essential mail could be delivered within 48 hours.
What major strategic decisions did Herna Verhagen make during her time as CEO?: Verhagen successfully defended PostNL from a takeover attempt by Bpost in 2016 and oversaw the acquisition of Sandd, making PostNL a de facto monopolist in the Dutch postal market. Despite this, she was unable to make the mail delivery business profitable.
What was Herna Verhagen's proposal regarding mail delivery, and what was the outcome?: The Dutch parliament rejected Verhagen's proposal to relax the delivery rules, demanding further investigation into the postal market before any changes. The ACM will conduct additional research into the matter.
What is Herna Verhagen's legacy at PostNL, and what are her views on diversity in the workplace?: Verhagen's departure marks the end of a long tenure as one of the few female CEOs of a listed company in the Netherlands. She advocated for greater diversity in top management positions, and during her time at PostNL, the percentage of women in management increased.
How has digitalization impacted PostNL's business, and what are the company's current challenges?: PostNL's business model is facing challenges due to the decline in traditional mail volume caused by digitalization. However, the company has experienced growth in the package delivery sector, driven by the rise of e-commerce.

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