New Yodel director to handle Christmas rush

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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Yodel has appointed a “peak programme director” to deal with the crush around Christmas deliveries.

Mark Horrobin will take the newly-created role and oversee the planning and execution of this year’s Christmas peak deliveries.

For the last few years, booksellers have complained of late parcel deliveries from the courier in the run up to Christmas as customers orders increase. The issue peaked last year when Black Friday hit an all time high in the UK and saw a dramatic increase in online orders on 29th November, which filtered into December deliveries. At one point, Yodel announced it was unable to pick deliveries up from retailers over the weekend of 11th-13th December because it was already three days behind on existing parcel deliveries, not helped by the rush of Black Friday online ordering. The problem hit many independent booksellers, because Yodel is used by Bertrams wholesaler and it also affected Waterstones.

New appointee Horrobin has extensive senior commercial and operating experience in challenging consumer and business markets, Yodel said, having previously worked in the retail, transport and technology sectors. He has also held board positions at several bluechip companies, including Tesco Telecoms and AOL. He was last commercial director at Onetel Communications which was recently sold to Carphone Warehouse.

Interim joint c.e.o of Yodel, Keith Basnett, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Mark onboard, as our planning for this year’s peak enters its next phase. His extensive experience and track record of delivering results in challenging circumstances will help to shape our peak plans and ensure that we are on track to provide the resilience required to deliver this Christmas.”

Horrobin will first appoint a peak planning team, drawing expertise from all parts of the Yodel business, to ensure a fully integrated approach.

The appointment is the latest in a series of peak preparations by the carrier, which has already invested heavily in new sites, fleet, technology and training as well as consumer research, which recently revealed a 375% increase in the number of shoppers planning to take part in this year’s Black Friday promotions.

[ennabee]

It gets busy in the run up to Christmas so hire more people, vans and warehouse space.

JOB DONE

[POSTMAN]

Ahhhhh memories...

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