OTTAWA — A new leader has been hired to run Canada Post.
Canada Post Corp. says Deepak Chopra will take the reins of the country’s government-owned postal service for a five-year term starting Feb. 1.
Chopra lives in Toronto and was formerly the president and CEO of the Canadian and Latin American regions of Pitney Bowes, a global mailing and communications firm.
“His extensive experience in dealing with government and postal officials around the world, as well as his vast knowledge of the regulatory bodies governing the mailing industry, will definitely be a strong asset to the corporation,” Transport Minister Chuck Strahl said in a release.
Canada Post is one of the country’s largest employers.
The Crown corporation estimates it delivered about 11 billion items to 15 million residential and businesses in 2009.
The Canadian Union of Postal Workers has requested a meeting with Chopra to introduce ourselves and highlight some key concerns, said CUPW national president Denis Lemelin.
“We think the corporation needs a management that understands that Canada Post is, first and foremost, a public service. It also needs a management that is willing to sit down with the union and solve problems,” Lemelin said.
The union has listed several potential goals, which include expanding Canada Post’s parcel delivery and retail services.