Washington—The U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors (BOG) on Monday, May 21, promoted its chief operating officer John Potter to the top spot–postmaster general. Potter will replace PMG William Henderson, who is leaving at the end of the month.
Potter’s postal management experience “makes him the ideal choice to focus on improving productivity and trimming costs, rather than simply increasing the rates paid by the mailing public,” stated former Postal Rate Commission chairman Ed Gleiman, who is currently spearheading the Direct Marketing Association’s postal reform campaign.
Potter was named USPS chief operating officer and executive vice president in October 2000. A 23-year postal employee, he began his career as a distribution clerk in 1978. Over the years, he has handled various leadership positions in the USPS dealing with operations and labor issues.
CATALOG AGE first reported on Potter’s imminent appointment on Friday afternoon, May 18. He was in the running for the post along with deputy Postmaster General John Nolan and former Indianapolis mayor Stephen Goldsmith.