Post Office Scandal

Reporting the Post Office Horizon IT Scandal

Post Office Scandal

Reporting the Post Office Horizon IT Scandal

Read stands aside to focus on Inquiry

Nick Wallis

24 comments

2 min read
Nick Read

Nick Read is stepping back from frontline duties as Post Office CEO to focus on Phase 7 of the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry.

In an all-staff newsletter, sent today, Read wrote:

“Following a discussion with Post Office Chair, Nigel Railton and the Board, we have agreed that I should give my entire attention to the task of preparing the business for Phase 7… It is vitally important that we demonstrate the changes we have made and give confidence to the Inquiry and the country at large that ‘nothing like this could happen again’.”

Phase 7 of the Inquiry is called “Current practice and procedure and recommendations for the future” and is due to begin in September. Read was roundly criticised at the Business Select Committee in January for his lack of grip – repeatedly telling MPs at his oral evidence session that he could not comment on matters relating to the scandal as he was focused on the day-to-day running of the Post Office.

Read was far better during his February Select Committee hearing. Today’s announcement suggests he sees the benefit of preparation. It might also signal the beginning of the end of his five year regime.

Owen Woodley, current Deputy CEO will become acting CEO. Read says Woodley “will lead the Senior Executive Group to cover all the day-to-day activities of the business over the next 7 weeks until the end of August.”

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24 responses to “Read stands aside to focus on Inquiry”

  1. Post Office CEO Nick Read announces his departure – Post Office Scandal

    […] is not currently doing his day job, having stood aside as CEO in July order to work on his evidence to the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry and “demonstrate the […]

    Reply
  2. Marcus avatar
    Marcus

    This is more of a post Callard reflection than in response to Read’s, presumably taxpayer funded, gardening leave. After a very nervous, gabbling start, it was interesting to see Callard gradually gather his composure under fire and slot into full civil servant Bernard Woolley (Yes Minister) mode. He had an emollient answer (or at least he believed he had an answer) to everything. It seemed he mainly wanted to position himself as a mere Civil Service go-between whose job was facilitating communication between PO and the ministers (very busy people you know – best do most of their thinking for them). Much it just didn’t simply ring true though. Callard clearly became ‘captured’ by the Post Office at an early stage and displayed very little objectively or critical thinking.
    It was interesting to see his matey communications with PO Communications guru Mark Davies. It appears to me that Davies (along with the lawyer Parsons) is one of the biggest and most cynical manipulators of people and the truth in this whole sorry saga. Amongst others, Davies had Vennells and Perkins eating out of his hand. Callard happily joined that group.
    Apart from PO being Vennells’ first CEO role, it was also Perkins’ first Chair role apparently. They were both needy and up for ‘guidance’ in what to do, especially Vennells who obviously wasn’t rated by anyone for most of her tenure it transpires. The fact that Perkins was supposedly ‘mentoring’ her, is a classic case of the blind leading the blind. All the while, despite the fact he was meant to be the eyes and ears of the ‘shareholder’, Callard was happy to maintain the status quo and reinforce the PO (i.e. Davies’) narrative whenever he could.

    Reply
    1. Will Kemp avatar
      Will Kemp

      A neat summary. Richard Callard came across as the stereotypical high-level British civil servant. Arrogant, condescending towards Ministers and reluctant to share information with them. Enjoying intradepartmental gossip and obsessed with protocols (Jason Beer had much fun with ‘which hat were you wearing in this situation?’) Above all, in respect of a NED’s statutory responsibility to exercise reasonable care, skill and diligence, as much use as a chocolate teapot.

      Reply
  3. M Hepton avatar
    M Hepton

    best thing that could happen is to appoint alan sugar as the boss, he would sort things out in a week

    Reply
  4. Mark O'meara avatar
    Mark O’meara

    In his all-staff newsletter, Nick Read writes that it has been agreed “that I should give my entire attention to the task of preparing the business for Phase 7”.
    Better this, than giving his entire attention to his own remuneration package.
    In her letter of 18 March 2024 to the business select committee, Jane Davies [POL Group Chief People Officer from December 2022 to June 2023] wrote that “from the first day, I found a Chief Executive who was obsessed with his pay”.

    Reply
  5. Nick avatar
    Nick

    Nick Read earned £573K last year according to Telegraph. Demanded £1M + ! Now, he is only doing Inquiry Work and leaving day to day running POL to others. Is he due a pay cut to reflect his reduced responsibility?

    Reply
  6. Katharine O'Connor avatar
    Katharine O’Connor

    Owen Woodley due to leave at the end of the summer after eight years I think. Said this spring to have been planned for some time. Quite a churn going on.

    Reply
  7. Richard Hopkins avatar
    Richard Hopkins

    If Read wants to tell the Inquiry, thr country and the SPMs that POL has changed, how exactly is it tenable that Rodric Williams remains at his desk?

    Reply
    1. Claudia avatar
      Claudia

      And John Scott. And Patrick Bourke.

      Reply
      1. Mark A avatar
        Mark A

        John Scott departed in 2016

        Reply
    2. Claudia avatar
      Claudia

      Not to mention John Scott. And Patrick Bourke.

      Reply
    3. Alan Cornforth avatar
      Alan Cornforth

      He must know where all the skeletons are hidden, can’t think of any other reason!

      Reply
    4. Nick Shand avatar
      Nick Shand

      agree. Williams has been a stalling stalwart contaminating all with selective amnesia. Supplying POL with the continuity of continuously blocking justice and redress with his cynically sorry straight bat inaction.

      Reply
  8. Mike Incledon avatar
    Mike Incledon

    How much are Post Office (ie., us) paying Nick Read to take almost 2 months off to prepare for questions, the answers to which should be at the forefront of his knowledge

    Reply
    1. Bob Lawson avatar
      Bob Lawson

      “the answers to which should be at the forefront of his knowledge”

      Ah, but the rehearsal time, taking time to get the emphasis in the right places, framing the answers as best he can, and so on… It won’t be easy for him. Even the choice of jacket and tie… Remember the Scouse investigator who thought an all black rig was appropriate? It was reminiscent of some organization popular in the mid 20C…

      Reply
  9. MikeP avatar
    MikeP

    So what he’ll be doing is “demonstrating the changes that have been made”.

    When man+dog knows that the culture, processes and technology within the PO are all far from sufficiently changed.

    it’s just more defensive PR, isn’t it?

    As you say, clearly his first (public) step towards the door.

    Reply
  10. David Jewitt avatar
    David Jewitt

    Why on earth does he need to step back from his duties, to prepare a series of bland denials perhaps. All he has to do is turn up and tell the truth, no preparation required for that. I think we’ve all had enough of this so called preparation.

    Reply
  11. Peter Burfitt avatar
    Peter Burfitt

    STRONGLY recommend reading the House of Commons links above. A long read but it’s like the Inquiry with teeth.

    Usual answers of course – not me Gov, etc., etc., but at least they get challenged.

    I’d be grateful if anyone could point me, and everyone else, to the correct site to read more of these Parliamentary grillings.

    Reply
    1. Claudia avatar
      Claudia

      https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/365/business-and-trade-committee/publications/oral-evidence/?SearchTerm=Post+office&DateFrom=&DateTo=&SessionId=

      Reply
      1. Peter Burfitt avatar
        Peter Burfitt

        Thank you !

        Reply
  12. Mark Daly avatar
    Mark Daly

    Seen him at recent hearings as Board/Government etc give evidence. Commented on Twitter that this seemed an egregious waste of money. That stands. First thing he should do is to watch the Human Impact evidence (again if he has already) which should form the basis of any reforms he should be making. Second thing he needs to do is get rid of Rodric Williams, which he should have done long ago, but should happen now given the evidence given by Tom Cooper. Given the money he is being paid he should be able to oversee both the general running of the company and also any reforms that are necessary. Seems an egregious waste of money.

    Reply
  13. Indigo avatar
    Indigo

    I’m still quite suspicious of all the PO CEO’s. What makes Read any more, or less, credulous?

    Reply
    1. Bob Lawson avatar
      Bob Lawson

      “What makes Read any more, or less, credulous?”

      While I believe you meant “credible” He may attempt to protect himself by claiming to be “credulous”

      Reply
    2. Peter Burfitt avatar
      Peter Burfitt

      Don’t think credulous figures anywhere in their vocabulary. Incredulous would be more appropriate.

      Reply

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