Emma Gilthorpe, chief executive of Royal Mail, has stepped down from her role after just over a year in the job, marking the first major leadership change since Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky completed his £3.6 billion takeover of the postal group’s parent company, International Distribution Services (IDS).
Gilthorpe’s departure, confirmed just days after the deal was finalised, comes as sources close to the business said the role had simply “not worked out” for her. She will be replaced by Alistair Cochrane, currently Royal Mail’s chief operating officer, who will step into the top job with immediate effect.
Gilthorpe joined Royal Mail in April 2023 following a long tenure at Heathrow Airport, where she had served as chief operating officer and was considered a frontrunner for the CEO position before losing out to Thomas Woldbye. Her move to Royal Mail was seen as a bold appointment, as she took on the task of leading a complex and often troubled transformation programme at one of the UK’s oldest institutions.
In a statement, Martin Seidenberg, CEO of IDS, paid tribute to her work: “Emma has worked tirelessly to drive forward Royal Mail’s transformation and I would like to extend my personal thanks to her for the significant contribution she has made to the company. On behalf of everyone at Royal Mail and IDS, we wish Emma all the best for the future.”
He welcomed Cochrane’s promotion, calling him an “exceptional leader” with deep knowledge of the logistics sector, and praised his work at Parcelforce and within the broader Royal Mail business.
Gilthorpe said she remained proud of her time at the company: “I will always be incredibly proud to have led Royal Mail and I would like to thank all 130,000 colleagues for their support as we worked together to deliver our ambitious transformation programme.”
“I look forward to seeing Royal Mail continue to transform in the years ahead, ensuring a stronger and more sustainable future for this great British company.”
Her departure comes at a pivotal moment for the 500-year-old postal service, as Kretinsky — dubbed the “Czech sphinx” for his elusive public profile — moves to modernise and streamline the business. The billionaire industrialist’s EP Group now holds majority control of IDS and is expected to play a more active role in shaping the future of Royal Mail.
Kretinsky’s acquisition has raised hopes of investment and reform, but also unease among some politicians and unions about the strategic importance of the UK’s national postal operator falling under foreign ownership.
Gilthorpe’s exit signals both a changing of the guard and a new chapter for Royal Mail, as the company attempts to reposition itself in a challenging logistics landscape marked by declining letter volumes, intense competition in parcel delivery, and pressure to improve efficiency and financial performance.
As Royal Mail prepares for deeper reforms under its new leadership, the focus will now shift to Cochrane’s strategy — and whether he can deliver where his predecessor’s efforts stalled.
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