Royal Mail expected to announce Simon Thompson’s exit within days

The chief executive of Royal Mail is expected to quit the postal group within days after his humiliating appearance in front of MPs earlier this year.

The departure of Simon Thompson, who was promoted to chief executive at the start of 2021, could come as early as this week, according to Sky News, which first reported his potential exit.

A spokesman for International Distributions Services (IDS), the London-listed parent company of Royal Mail, said: “We do not comment on speculation.”

Ever since taking the top job Thompson has been under pressure over strikes, with the business locked in a dispute with union bosses over pay and working practices as he tries to modernise the company to compete with rival parcel carriers.

During questioning from MPs