Post Office chief executive Nick Read quits

Post Office CEO Nick Read, who has been under fire for his handling of the Post Office scandal, is stepping down from his position in March 2025. Chief Operating Officer Nick Brocklehurst will take over on an interim basis.

Victims of the Post Office scandal have long been calling for Read to resign, citing delays in compensation payments and reports of his demands for a significant pay increase.

Read assumed the role of CEO in September 2019, succeeding Paula Vennells just as the High Court case revealed that the Horizon IT system was responsible for accounting discrepancies affecting subpostmasters.

His tenure was marked by efforts to modernize the Post Office, including reaching a settlement with claimants in the High Court case and establishing compensation schemes for affected individuals. However, many subpostmasters are still awaiting resolution of their claims.

Read faced public scrutiny earlier this year following the airing of the ITV drama Mr Bates vs the Post Office. He was also embroiled in a dispute between then-Secretary of State Kemi Badenoch and former Post Office chairman Henry Staunton.

Staunton’s revelations about an HR investigation into Read’s conduct and his alleged threats to resign over pay issues added to the controversy surrounding Read. Despite these challenges, Read expressed gratitude for the opportunity to work with Post Office staff and postmasters during his tenure.

Interim Post Office Chair Nigel Railton acknowledged Read’s efforts in steering the organization through turbulent times and initiating cultural reforms. Read is scheduled to appear before the upcoming phase of the public inquiry into the Post Office scandal in October.

The Post Office scandal, which dates back to 2009, has been a long-standing issue involving subpostmasters affected by Horizon accounting software. The final phase of the inquiry will focus on current Post Office practices and compensation matters.

• Also read: What you need to know about the Horizon scandal •

• Also watch: ITV’s documentary – Mr Bates vs The Post Office: The real story •

• Also read: Post Office and Fujitsu malevolence and incompetence means huge taxpayers’ bill •