Derek Osborn

International Postal Industry Expert

Biography

Derek is an enthusiastic, innovative and inspiring business coach, trainer, facilitator and also postal business, human resource and strategy advisor. He is an acknowledged postal expert, with over 22 years in senior management in Royal Mail, and over 13 years working internationally across the postal industry. He is passionate about collaboration in the postal industry to share knowledge, best practice and to promote the industry, develop capability, encourage training and foster innovation.

He has worked with most businesses and organisations in the global postal industry and has an extensive network of contacts. He has advised Governments, national postal operators and regulators about efficiency, improving operations, quality management, developing customer focus, growing mail volumes, strategy development and implementation. His clients have included Royal Mail, Deutsche Post, Latvia Post, TPG Post, Poste Italiane, Estonia Post, Correos de Chile, Qatar Post, Kazakhstan Post, Neopost, Pitney Bowes, Solystic, UPU, UNDP and Syria Post, Board of Posteurop, Postcomm (UK Regulator) and the Government of Gibraltar. He has also run and facilitated international benchmarking workshops and seminars, for Deutsche Post, Swiss Post, IPC, Posteurop and E-BISS International, involving a total of more than 35 postal organisations over the last 10 years. He has extensive experience of working internationally and cross-culturally, especially in the context of facilitating training workshops, business benchmarking and best practice.

He devised and runs the annual World Postal Survey, as well as speaking or moderating at many of the leading postal conferences and events, including Post Expo, World Mail and Express Conferences, Rutgers University Annual Conference on Postal Delivery, Posteurop Plenary Assemblies and IEA’s European Postal Services Conference and the Asia-Pacific Mail and Express Conference. He is a regular contributor to Postal Technology International. He is also on the judging panel for the World Mail and Express Awards. He has worked with Posteurop on the European Mailing Industry Platform on the topics of innovation and EU funded Pro-Actin programmes in South East Europe.

He has undertaken two major pieces of research for Pitney Bowes into innovative ways to create value through mail and grow volumes and into the convergence between new technologies and traditional mail. He has also completed some research into customer perspectives on the postal industry and recently he compiled a Guide to Key Account Management for the UPU to be made available for posts in developing countries.

He has run many workshops and training/development programmes for postal operators and associations, mainly for senior and middle managers.

Moya Greene

President & Chief Executive Officer, Canada Post

Biography

Moya Greene was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Canada Post Corporation on May 12, 2005. She sits on the Board of Directors of Canada Post, of Purolator Courier Ltd, a subsidiary of Canada Post, and of Tim Hortons. Ms. Greene has been a senior officer of three of Canada’s largest multinational companies, first in banking and financial services at TD Securities Inc., at CIBC, and at Bombardier Inc. Ms. Greene has acquired a strong track record in strategic planning, complex negotiations and relationship building. Ms. Greene also has a strong public sector background. She spent the first part of her career in Ottawa where, over a 17-year period, Ms. Greene assumed progressively senior roles in seven different Ministries of the federal public service. Ms. Greene is a graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School and Memorial University of Newfoundland. Ms. Greene has been named one of Canada’s top 40 female corporate executives and was recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 influential women.

Pablo Raventos

Director General, Unipost

Biography

Personal data: 45 years (09/01/1962), Spanish, married (2 children).

EDUCATION

1986 – 1988 I.E.S.E. UNIVERSITY OF NAVARRA BARCELONA, SPAIN
Master in Business Administration

1987 UNIVERSITY OF NORTHWESTERN CHICAGO, IL, USA

J.L. KELLOG SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT
MBA Exchange Program

1980 – 1986 UNIVERSITY POLITECHNIC OF CATALONIA BARCELONA, SPAIN
Agricultural Engineer

EXPERIENCE

1996 UNIPOST, S.A. BARCELONA, SPAIN

2006 Managing Director

2004 President

2001-2003 Vice President

1996 Member of the Board of Directors.

2005-2006 TG+ (Express and Parcel) BARCELONA, SPAIN
Managing Director
Member of the Board of Directors

1992– 2004 NUTREXPA GROUP (Consumer Goods) BARCELONA, SPAIN

2003 – 2004 Strategy and Corporate Development Director

1998 – 2003 Regional Director Europe

1998 – 2001 Managing Director Nutrexpa Poland

1994 – 1997 Director of Planing and Controlling

1992 – 1993 Asistant to the Managing Director

1989 – 1992 McKINSEY & COMPANY (Strategy Consultants) MADRID, SPAIN
Engagement Manager

Erwin Lenhardt

Director of Sales and Marketing, Siemens

Biography

Erwin Lenhardt is Vice President and has been responsible for Postal Sales at Siemens, Industrial Solutions and Services, Infrastructure Logistics since 2003.

Prior to this he was in charge of the Software & Electronics Business Unit as General Manager and the Head of Information Technology Services Europe with HEIDELBERG – the market leader for printing machines.

He started his business careers with AEG Daimler Benz Industry Head Quarters in Germany and the United States as Head of "Imaging & Recognition" Subdivision and Director North American Operations.

Erwin Lenhardt holds an Engineering and Economics degree from Technische Universität Darmstadt (Dipl. Wirtsch. Ing.) and a Masters Degree (MBA) from Union College, Schenectady (USA).

Peter Brännström

Chief Operating Officer, Posten

Biography

As the Director of Operation in Sweden Post, Peter Brännström is head of the mail process in one of Europe’s largest countries, despite its only 9 million citizens. Delivering 20 million mail pieces a day through a network of 12 sorting centres, some 500 local Delivery offices and 20 000 employees, Sweden Post has a world class quality result, with an overnight delivery rate of 96 %. Since Sweden is totally deregulated this is a necessity in order to make a profit. Since 2009 Sweden Post is a part of Posten Norden, the merger between the Swedish and the Danish postal services.

Before joining Sweden Post Peter Brännström was the CEO of the media monitoring company Observer and in the early 2000s CEO for Thomson Legal Information in Sweden. But his career started as a mailman and a number of managerial positions in Posten Sverige.

Vincent Santacroce

Director ICT, Poste Italiane

Biography

Vincent Santacroce became Poste Italiane's Mail Division CIO in September 2004. Currently Vincent is the Marketing Head for Innovative & Digital Services.

Prior to this he held various senior leadership roles in Accenture working in Italy, Germany, France, USA.

At the end of 2008 he launched and managed the "Electronic Mailman Project", in which 18.500 mailmen are currently equipped with mobile devices and printers that enable the Poste Italiane to provide a wide portfolio of services (real-time proof of delivery, justices notifications, fines management, real-time telegram deliveries, mobile payments, traditional door-to-door post office services) to its customers. This is the first ICT project worldwide that brings mobile technology to the last mile of the logistics process at such a large scale, involving within the next 36 months all Poste Italiane’s 42,000 mailmen.

Vincent holds a Doctorate Degree in Economics from the Luiss University in Rome. He's married to Antonella with 2 daughters (Gaia & Sofia). His major hobby is golf where he is working very hard to lower this handicap to a single digit.

Carlos Dias Alves

Chief Operating Officer, CTT Corrieos de Portugal

Biography

Carlos Dias Alves was born in Lisbon and has a degree in Mechanical Engineering of Instituto Superior Técnico and a Diploma in Research, Development and Technology—based Innovation Management of MIT.

Presently, he is General Inspector of Posts and member of the Board of Directors of the state-owned postal company, Correios de Portugal where he holds the position of Chief Operating Officer.

Joined CTT in 1971, where he carried out top management functions in several operational, business and IT areas of the company and former CEO and Director of several CTT subsidiaries: MailTec (printing & finishing), Post Contacto (Advertising Mail), Post-Expresso (City Mail), Tourline and CTT Expresso (CEP), INESC (Systems Engineering).

He was also responsible for the Company’s International Business Department, specialized in the supply of consultancy services and postal technology products, especially in the following sectors: operations, management, counter automation, training, postal reform and quality systems installation.

Kurt Pierloot

Chief Operating Officer – Mail & Parcels, De Post La Poste

Biography

Kurt Pierloot is Chief Operations Officer at the Belgian Post and member of the Executive Committee of the Belgian Post. In this role, he is responsible for managing all mail and parcels operations and for developing and implementing the Mail strategy. In his role of COO, he is also responsible for Facility Services and Cleaning. Other roles he assumed before his current responsibilities include Director of the Collect & Distribution Network, Regional Manager of the Collect & Distribution Network and Change Program Manager for the mail division of the Belgian Post.

Before joining the Post in 2004, he was Associate Principal in the Brussels office of McKinsey & Company. At McKinsey, he has primarily served telecom operators, postal operators and Banks in Europe, Latin America and North America. As consultant he mainly specialized in developing and implementing major operational turnaround programs.

Kurt Pierloot holds a degree in Commercial Engineering from the University of Brussels where he graduated summa cum laude (1995). During his academic period, he completed several internships in various industries, and acquired experience in the retail, consumer goods and manufacturing industries.

Vincent Santacroce

Director ICT, Poste Italiane

Biography

Vincent Santacroce became Poste Italiane's Mail Division CIO in September 2004. Currently Vincent is the Marketing Head for Innovative & Digital Services.

Prior to this he held various senior leadership roles in Accenture working in Italy, Germany, France, USA.

At the end of 2008 he launched and managed the "Electronic Mailman Project", in which 18.500 mailmen are currently equipped with mobile devices and printers that enable the Poste Italiane to provide a wide portfolio of services (real-time proof of delivery, justices notifications, fines management, real-time telegram deliveries, mobile payments, traditional door-to-door post office services) to its customers. This is the first ICT project worldwide that brings mobile technology to the last mile of the logistics process at such a large scale, involving within the next 36 months all Poste Italiane’s 42,000 mailmen.

Vincent holds a Doctorate Degree in Economics from the Luiss University in Rome. He's married to Antonella with 2 daughters (Gaia & Sofia). His major hobby is golf where he is working very hard to lower this handicap to a single digit.

Carlos Dias Alves

Chief Operating Officer, CTT Corrieos de Portugal

Biography

Carlos Dias Alves was born in Lisbon and has a degree in Mechanical Engineering of Instituto Superior Técnico and a Diploma in Research, Development and Technology—based Innovation Management of MIT.

Presently, he is General Inspector of Posts and member of the Board of Directors of the state-owned postal company, Correios de Portugal where he holds the position of Chief Operating Officer.

Joined CTT in 1971, where he carried out top management functions in several operational, business and IT areas of the company and former CEO and Director of several CTT subsidiaries: MailTec (printing & finishing), Post Contacto (Advertising Mail), Post-Expresso (City Mail), Tourline and CTT Expresso (CEP), INESC (Systems Engineering).

He was also responsible for the Company’s International Business Department, specialized in the supply of consultancy services and postal technology products, especially in the following sectors: operations, management, counter automation, training, postal reform and quality systems installation.

Kurt Pierloot

Chief Operating Officer – Mail & Parcels, De Post La Poste

Biography

Kurt Pierloot is Chief Operations Officer at the Belgian Post and member of the Executive Committee of the Belgian Post. In this role, he is responsible for managing all mail and parcels operations and for developing and implementing the Mail strategy. In his role of COO, he is also responsible for Facility Services and Cleaning. Other roles he assumed before his current responsibilities include Director of the Collect & Distribution Network, Regional Manager of the Collect & Distribution Network and Change Program Manager for the mail division of the Belgian Post.

Before joining the Post in 2004, he was Associate Principal in the Brussels office of McKinsey & Company. At McKinsey, he has primarily served telecom operators, postal operators and Banks in Europe, Latin America and North America. As consultant he mainly specialized in developing and implementing major operational turnaround programs.

Kurt Pierloot holds a degree in Commercial Engineering from the University of Brussels where he graduated summa cum laude (1995). During his academic period, he completed several internships in various industries, and acquired experience in the retail, consumer goods and manufacturing industries.

Aavo Karmas

Member of Board, Eesti Post

Biography

Born in 1975 in Estonia.

Educated at Tallinn University of Technology where he graduated in 2000 with a degree in public administration.

Since 1998 he has passed different management and production processes development trainings and seminars. In connection of his work profile, he has constantly improved his language skills. In addition to fluent English, Russian and Finnish languages, he took a German language course in 2001.

He started his professional career in 1996 as an Export Manager in AS Viljandi Aken ja Uks, which main activity is production of wooden windows and doors.

In 1998 his was promoted to the position of Commercial Director of the same company. After restructuring of the company in 2003 he was appointed as Director of the Window Division. In this position he continued until 2006.

In 2006 Aavo Kärmas joined AS Eesti Post as a Member of the Board, with main responsibility of Sales, Marketing, Development, International Affairs and Strategy. He also held a position of supervisory board member of AS Eesti Elektronpost.

After restructuring the company in 2007, his main responsibility as a board member of Estonian Post is Logistics, Info-logistics, Transport and IT.

Besides his professional career, Aavo has been active also in social activities with a main interest in nature. He is one of the Founding members of the Friends of Soomaa Association. Since 1997 this association has played an important role in protection and survival of valuable Estonian nature.

Giovanni Belli

Head of eCommunication, Strålfors Information Logistics, Posten Norden

Biography

Mr. Giovanni Belli is in charge of an e-business unit within Strålfors Information Logistic which is a part of Posten Norden – responsible for development, selling and providing e-service solutions to business and government customer for delivery of electronic information transfer to other companies and citizens as an extended service to the postal core product. Mr. Giovanni Belli have worked for several years in general management being responsible for strategy and operations and have wide experience being responsible for development and implementation of e-commerce solutions in companies which has been extremely successful in Denmark.

Stefan Luginbühl

Head of Parcels, PostLogistics, Swiss Post

Biography

1986 Post office in Montreux

1987 – 1989 Berne letter post service with training in railway postal transport

1989 – 1991 Office Manager at for Berne letter post service, management of introductory and finishing courses for apprentices

1991 – 1993 Customer advisor for payment transactions at the District Postal Directorate in Berne

1993 – 1994 Specialist in advertising and sales promotion for Payments Business Customers at C 12

1994 – 1997 Sales Manager Payments Private Customers

1997 – 1998 Sales Manager PostParcels

1998 – 2000 Head of Sales Business Customers at Swiss Post

2000 – 2003 Head of Sales PostParcels

2003 - 2007 Head of Distribution PostParcels/PostLogistics

2008 - Head of Parcels & Express

Andreas Lemmer

Product Manager B2C Parcel Europe, Deutsche Post DHL

Biography

Andreas Lemmer studied Economics and Political Sciences at the University of Bonn (Germany) and École Supérieure de Commerce de Bordeaux (France). He began his career at the Cologne Office of McKinsey & Company, Inc. where he worked for four years, lastly as Engagement Manager in the Travel and Logistics Practice. He joined Deutsche Post AG in Spring 2003. At Corporate Organization and later Corporate Strategy Andreas worked on several strategic projects, including the sale of retail outlets to Postbank, acquisitions of Express companies in Romania and Spain, as well as the Corporate Strategy project "Strategy 2015". In February 2009 he became product manager at the newly created unit "B2C Parcel Europe" where he makes sure that the price and product features of cross-border parcels meet the changing needs of B2C companies.

Christian Brandt

Director of Distribution, Posten Norge

Biography

Born: 1964, married, 2 children

Work Experience:

2008 – present Vice President, Supply. Chain. Development (Norway Post)

2005 – 2008 Senior Vice President, Delivery (Norway Post)

2004 – 2005 CFO for Distribution Network (Norway Post)

12 years with supply chain development and leadership in Norway’s largest Egg and Poultry company.

Education:

Master of Logistics from Norwegian business school

Bruno Volta

Project Leader, Solystic

Biography

Bruno VOLTA has worked in the Postal Business for more than 18 years.

He began his postal career as an engineer starting working in the development of control software of sorting equipments.

For more than 10 years, he has been involved in design and development of postal systems and turnkey facilities. He has acquired a high level of experience and expertise in postal solutions.

In recent years, he spend most of his time in the design of the systems dedicated to the IT management and production control of new sorting sites.

John Coghlan

Chief Executive, DX Group

Biography

Originally from Cork city, John is responsible for the DX Group in both the UK and Ireland. Previously a non-executive director of the group, John joined the executive team in February 2008.

A qualified chartered accountant, John brings with him an impressive career in the logistics sector. He was deputy chief executive and group finance director of Exel plc, where he spent 11 years until its takeover by DHL in 2006, and has also worked for Tomkins plc and Arthur Andersen in various senior financial roles

He is married with two children, and lives in Kingston-Upon-Thames.

Andrés Magnússon

Director of Human Resources, Posturinn

Biography

Born 28.04.1952 In Reykjavík Iceland

Education

BA. Psychology University of Iceland

MA. Psychology University of Leicester UK

Work experience

Practicing psychologist at comprehensive collage

Teacher, specialist and counsellor at Min. Education

Psychologist and manager of training and education, Post and Telecom Iceland

Director of Human Resources Iceland Post

Botond Szebeny

Secretary General, PostEurop

Biography

Botond Szebeny is the Secretary General of PostEurop (Association of European Public Postal Operators) and former Executive Director of International Business and a member of the Executive Committee at Magyar Posta.

Prior to joining PostEurop in 2009, Botond served in the Management Board of PostEurop with the responsibility of chairing the European Affairs Committee of the Association. Botond has also lead various initiatives including the Universal Postal Union’s Financial Committee and participated directly in the preparation of the new EU postal directive as postal expert of EU’s European Economic & Social Committee.

Botond is also a regular speaker at international conferences and author of numerous publications. Besides Hungarian, he speaks fluent English, German, Romanian and good French.

Born in Brasov, Romania. Botond has a Degree in Economics from Budapest University of Economics as well as a Degree in Law from Eötvös Loránd University Budapest, Faculty of Law.

Brian Moran

Global Postal Industry Managing Director, Accenture

Biography

Brian Moran is the Managing Director of Accenture's Global Postal Industry. He works with Accenture's postal clients throughout the world to enable them to become High Performing Businesses. Brian has worked with Accenture's postal clients on projects ranging from back office solutions to supply chain strategy. Brian has been with Accenture for 17 years in a variety of roles and industries with a speciality in supply chain.

Peter Somers

Member of the Management Board, De Post La Poste

Biography

Peter Somers is member of the Executive Committee of Belgian Post and Managing Director of Belgian Post International, a business unit of Belgian Post.

Being responsible for the international mail business of Belgian Post, he is now actively working on a renewed strategy for the international expansion of Belgian Post International. The increased competition caused by the liberalisation of the European postal market is a serious challenge that he believes calls for new strategic thinking, tactical action and operational conduct.

Peter Somers is a seasoned international logistics director with more than 20 years experience from executive positions in leading transport and distribution companies in Belgium, The Netherlands and United Kingdom. In the postal and logistics market, he has in-depth expertise in designing and implementing distribution systems.

Peter joined Belgian Post in 2000 as Managing Director of DeltaMedia SA/NV, and as Director Press Distribution; both units of Belgian Post.

After having successfully redesigned and implemented a new and efficient distribution system for newspapers, magazines and non-addressed mail, he was appointed Managing Director of Belgian Post International in June 2002. He retained the position as Managing Director of DeltaMedia till 2004, but relinquished a directorship in Press Distribution upon his appointment. He became member of the Executive Committee in 2007.

Thomas Kipp

Chief Executive Officer Global Mail, Deutsche Post DHL

Biography

Thomas Kipp has been appointed CEO DHL Global Mail, Deutsche Post AG, as of July 31, 2009. In this role, he is responsible for the International Mail business of Deutsche Post DHL.

Prior to assuming his current position, Thomas served as CEO Global Mail Europe since December 1, 2008. Within this role he was responsible for the European sales and operational activities of DHL Global Mail.

Previously, he was a member of the divisional board for MAIL and headed up that division's Business Customers department. In this position he was responsible for developing and marketing tailored customer solutions in the Dialog Marketing and Corporate Information Solutions business units.

Pieter Kunz

Managing Director European Mail Networks, TNT

Biography

Pieter heads TNT Post European Mail Networks. He is also member of the TNT Mail Board.

TNT Post is the largest postal operator in the Netherlands and through its European Mail Networks the number one challenger in many European countries. In 8 countries TNT Post offers both Addressed and Unaddressed mail services. TNT Post delivers mail to more than 60 million households. In 2009 TNT Post delivered more than 8 billion Addressed mail items and 16 billion unaddressed items. TNT Post EMN operates a network with more than 100.000 people.

Since his appointment as Managing Director of EMN in 2003, the business in Europe has grown from 300 million to 1.2 billion Euros in 2009. The European Mail market is still highly regulated and not fully liberalised.

Pieter Kunz joint TNT Post just before the privatisation in 1988 and was active in different operational and executive positions. He was also responsible for the development of the mail related value added services, including printing, database management and hybrid mail solutions.

Before he joined TNT Post he was active in Real Estate and Facility management.

Pieter Kunz is member of the Supervisory Board of TNT Post GmbH Co & KG, a joint venture with OTTO/Hermes in Germany and member of the Supervisory Board of Redmail in Austria, a joint venture with Styria, one of the leading publishers in Austria.

He is married and has 4 children.

Peter Somers

Member of the Management Board, De Post La Poste

Biography

Peter Somers is member of the Executive Committee of Belgian Post and Managing Director of Belgian Post International, a business unit of Belgian Post.

Being responsible for the international mail business of Belgian Post, he is now actively working on a renewed strategy for the international expansion of Belgian Post International. The increased competition caused by the liberalisation of the European postal market is a serious challenge that he believes calls for new strategic thinking, tactical action and operational conduct.

Peter Somers is a seasoned international logistics director with more than 20 years experience from executive positions in leading transport and distribution companies in Belgium, The Netherlands and United Kingdom. In the postal and logistics market, he has in-depth expertise in designing and implementing distribution systems.

Peter joined Belgian Post in 2000 as Managing Director of DeltaMedia SA/NV, and as Director Press Distribution; both units of Belgian Post.

After having successfully redesigned and implemented a new and efficient distribution system for newspapers, magazines and non-addressed mail, he was appointed Managing Director of Belgian Post International in June 2002. He retained the position as Managing Director of DeltaMedia till 2004, but relinquished a directorship in Press Distribution upon his appointment. He became member of the Executive Committee in 2007.

Thomas Kipp

Chief Executive Officer Global Mail, Deutsche Post DHL

Biography

Thomas Kipp has been appointed CEO DHL Global Mail, Deutsche Post AG, as of July 31, 2009. In this role, he is responsible for the International Mail business of Deutsche Post DHL.

Prior to assuming his current position, Thomas served as CEO Global Mail Europe since December 1, 2008. Within this role he was responsible for the European sales and operational activities of DHL Global Mail.

Previously, he was a member of the divisional board for MAIL and headed up that division's Business Customers department. In this position he was responsible for developing and marketing tailored customer solutions in the Dialog Marketing and Corporate Information Solutions business units.

Frank Marthaler

CEO Swiss Post Solutions & Member of the Board of Management, Swiss Post

Biography

Education

1989: MBA Business Administration (lic. oec. HSG) at University of St. Gallen, Switzerland

Experience

Swiss Post

Since 10/2007: Executive Vice President Swiss Post Solutions; Member of Executive Management

2002 - 2007: Senior Vice President Strategic Account Management and Sales; Chairman MailSource Group and President GHP Group

1999 - 2002: Vice President Strategic Account Management; Chairman MailSource Group

EDS (Electronic Date Systems) Switzerland AG, Zurich

1998 - 1999: Executive Vice President Sales & Marketing

1996 - 1997: Director Sales & Marketing

1995: Sales Manager

Henri Dura

Chief Marketing & Strategy Officer, Neopost

Biography

Henri Dura became Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer, Neopost in 2005; prior to this, he had been Managing Director of Neopost France since 2000. Previously Henri had been CEO at Pitney Bowes France from 1995, and Managing Director at Kyocera France from 1990. He formerly held top marketing and management positions at Xerox, and France Télécom. He graduated from Sciences Po Paris in economics and finance.

Headquartered in Paris, Neopost is a leading provider of mailing and shipping solutions for business mailers and postal and logistics operators.

Mark Eldridge

Strategy & Marketing Director, Spring Global Mail

Biography

Mark Eldridge is the Strategy & Marketing Director at Spring, the joint venture cross border Mail Company owned by TNT and Royal Mail. He joined the JV at its conception in July 2001.

Mark has spent 26 years in the mail industry, the last 16 in the international market. He joined Spring from Royal Mail where he qualified as an Accountant before moving into Marketing, Commercial and General Management positions.

Mark played an important role in the set up of the Joint Venture being involved in the European Commission Competition approval and integration of the contributed businesses.

As a Management Team member, his role in Spring is global and covers Marketing, Product Management and Business Development. He has teams based in Amsterdam, Brussels and Singapore.

Mark is married with three children and lives in Hilversum, The Netherlands. He enjoys cycling, golf, travelling, reading and supporting his children in their sporting and musical activities!

Alfred Kobe

Chairman, Postal Users Group, Federation of European Direct and Interactive Marketing Association

Biography

Alfred Köbe has nearly 30 years experience in e-commerce and distance selling. Having for a long time been responsible for Logistics and IT at the Neckermann’s headquarters in Germany, he has from 1999 until 2006 successively been a Director for Neckermann’s distance selling companies in France, Belgium and the Netherlands as well as Director for OTTO in the Netherlands from 2006 until 2009. All the way through, Alfred Köbe had been responsible for all postal issues.

During this time he has accompanied the transition of the print-based Distance Selling companies to the new, digital E-driven businesses. Since 2005 Alfred Köbe is a board member of the European E-commerce and Mail Order Trade Association (EMOTA) and since 2009 the Chairman of the Postal User Group (PUG).

Eleonora Cordaro

Business Intelligence Manager, Elsag Datamat

Biography

Eleonora is currently head of business intelligence and development within the International Sales Dept. at Elsag Datamat, a Finmeccanica Company. With a degree in Business Economics at Genoa University, focused on marketing and communications, she started her career in marketing consultancy, working as account and project manager for relevant international customers. During her 10 years in Elsag Datamat, Eleonora worked as project manager for Poste Italiane and developed deep expertise as industry consultant in new strategic initiatives, alliances and innovative business models also connected with emerging technologies applied especially to the international top advanced postal operators.

Matthew Neilson

Head of Environmental Solutions, Royal Mail

Biography

Matthew is leading Royal Mail’s commercial response to climate change. His focus is on delivering solutions that help make mail sustainable and to develop new sustainability focused business opportunities. Solutions to date include Sustainable Mail for direct mail, and Simply Drop, a recycling service for small electrical items.

Tom Ghelen

Postal Industry, Belgium, Accenture

Biography

Tom is Senior Manager for Accenture with a vast experience in Health & Public Service. He works with major clients including the Federal Public Service Finance, Belgian Railways and De Post/La Poste.

As member of the Accenture network of Postal experts, he has been working for over 8 years on a diversity of projects for different business units of De Post/La Poste: Retail, Mail, Enterprise, Financial Post, Bank of De Post, ICT and HR. He has contributed to projects in the area of strategy, business process reengineering, change management, ICT (out)sourcing and development. As a project manager he also carried responsibility of translation activities and coordination management between business and ICT.

Tom has been a member of the team that developed and maintained the Belgian Federal Portal, where he contributed to the design of the first releases of the online tax declaration, being one of the most successful eGovernment applications of the moment.

Jane Dyer

Director Markets and Communication, International Post Corporation

Biography

Jane Dyer is developing the framework within which senior postal executives can discuss strategic issues for the postal industry, learn from each other and share both information and experience.

She joined IPC as Director, Markets and Communication in November 2006 from the United States Postal Service (USPS) where her most recent executive corporate management position gave her responsibility for development and execution of global business strategies.

At IPC, she has responsibility for senior executive forums, corporate and member communications, publications and market research. Supported by her team, she is playing a key role in IPC’s development as a proactive, high-profile organisation recognised as the natural partner for the postal industry.

Jane’s professional experience at the USPS includes leading transformational initiatives as well as higher-responsibility management positions in marketing, sales and corporate relations.

Jane has a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Wayne State University and, as a Sloan Fellow, she earned an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Rafał Brzoska

Chief Executive Office, InPost

Biography

Rafał Brzoska was born in 1977. Between 1997 and 2001 he studied Marketing and Management at Cracow University of Economics. Since 1999 as a sales director and one of the owners, he managed SENIORNET S.C, which provided services in the IT industry. In 1999 he began his activity as the President of INTEGER S.C., later evolved into INTEGER.PL specializing in distribution of unaddressed mail. He is also the owner of the company. Since April 2006 Rafal Brzoska has also been the President of InPost, Poland’s largest private postal operator.

He is interested in financial markets. In his free time he likes skiing and diving.

Ernst Hoestra

Chief Executive Officer, Cycleon

Biography

Ernst W. Hoestra, COO, is responsible for network development, customer implementation and IT at Cycleon. In this role, he is focused on the operations and development of the Cycleon proprietary IT system; the foundation of the Cycleon reverse logistics solution. Ernst has held senior positions in both the post and the express sectors. He holds an MSc in Law from Erasmus University in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Ernst joined Cycleon in February 2009 and will drive innovative solutions for the end-to-end management of reverse logistics solutions.