NEWS

By KIM WEAVER SPURR
Kenan-Flagler Business School

CHAPEL HILL -- William J. Henderson, postmaster general and chief executive officer of the U.S. Postal Service, will speak at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business School on April 11.

Henderson, a UNC-Chapel Hill alumnus, is the 71st postmaster general of the United States and the fifth career employee to lead the world’s largest postal system. A 27-year veteran of the agency, Henderson brings a rich background of postal experience and a track record of ingenuity and success to the helm of the $60-billion-a-year agency.

Before being appointed postmaster general and chief executive officer in May 1998, Henderson served as chief operating officer, with responsibility for nationwide postal operations -- daily delivery of more than 650 million pieces of mail to more than 130 million addresses. During that time, the Postal Service achieved record service performance levels on local first-class mail, took advantage of automated technology to contribute significantly to the Postal Service’s three consecutive operating surpluses, and explored operational initiatives to improve customer service and delivery.

As postmaster general, Henderson has continued this performance momentum. In 1998, the Postal Service set new service milestones. In January 1999, national agreements were signed with two of the largest postal unions for the first time in 12 years.

Henderson has been an innovator throughout his postal career. In 1992, as vice president of employee relations, he introduced 360-degree feedback for executives and oversaw the largest downsizing in postal history. Ten months later, he became chief marketing officer and senior vice president, launching today’s more customer-focused approach to the communications marketplace. He has received several national leadership awards.

Henderson will speak at 5:30 p.m. in the McColl Building’s Maurice J. Koury Auditorium. The lecture, part of the Dean’s Speaker Series, is free and open to the public. To RSVP, e-mail KFBSRSVP@bschool.unc.edu or call (919) 962-9252.

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Kenan-Flagler contact: Kim Weaver Spurr, (919) 962-8951, spurrk@unc.edu