Mr Batey is a Chartered Accountant and has served as Group Finance Director at three major UK companies, AMEC, United Utilities and Thames Water. He currently has Non Executive Director positions with a number of companies including Arriva plc and Telecity Group plc.

Two Commissioners will be leaving on 31 March, when their terms of office end. Tony Cooper has been a Commissioner since Postcomm was created in 2001 and Simon Prior Palmer has served on the Commission since 2006.

Lord Young said:

"I am delighted to announce Simon's appointment to Postcomm's Board. Simon's breadth of experience and financial expertise will further build on the strengths of the Commission's existing Board and help it face the challenges that lie ahead for regulation in the postal industry."

"I would also like to thank Tony Cooper and Simon Prior-Palmer for their contributions to the work of the Commission in past years which has formed the basis of a more competitive and responsive market of postal services."

In welcoming the new appointment Nigel Stapleton, Chairman of Postcomm, said:

"Simon Batey will bring some highly relevant experience to Postcomm which he has gained during his top level finance roles in both competitive and regulated businesses. His input will be particularly valuable now that our work to change the regulatory regime is building momentum to help secure the universal service in a rapidly changing postal market.

“We greatly appreciate the valuable contribution that Tony Cooper and Simon Prior Palmer have made as Commissioners and we wish them both well for the future."

Notes to Editors

1. Mr Batey's appointment as a Commissioner is for a term of three years from 15 March 2010. The remuneration is £22842 per annum and the time commitment required is 3 - 4 days per month.

2. Mr Batey holds no other Ministerial public appointments.

3. Postcomm is the independent regulator for postal services, established under the Postal Services Act 2000. It is responsible for ensuring that a universal postal service is maintained, whilst promoting appropriate and effective competition between postal operators in the interests of consumers.

4. Postcomm is chaired by Nigel Stapleton. Other Commissioners are: Wanda Goldwag, Ulf Dahlsten, Stephen Littlechild, and Lucy Scott-Moncrieff. The Chief Executive, Tim Brown, is also a Commissioner.
5. This appointment has been made in accordance with the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA) code. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. Mr Batey has declared that he has not carried out any political activities on behalf of any political party over the past five years.

Please contact the Department for Business press office on 0207 215 3496 for more information.

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