TNT UK reveals new head of international division after management shake-up

TNT veteran Tony Jakobsen has replaced Stuart Stobie as head of TNT UK and Ireland’s international division, as part of a major management overhaul.

Jakobsen’s appointment and Stobie’s departure come as TNT pushes through major change across the business ahead of its purchase by larger US rival FedEx.

The acquisition is expected to go ahead next month, subject to EU approval.

The management restructuring has already seen a number of top executives leave the UK International division in the past weeks, a move which a TNT spokesman told Motortransport.co.uk this week were due to “leadership concerns.”

Asked if more management changes are on the cards, following Jakobsen’s appointment at TNT, a spokeswoman said: “We have always said 2015 will be a year of transformation.”

Jakobsen has a long track record at TNT. He began his career as a driver, notching up 27 years in the business. His former position at TNT was business development director at TNT UK’s domestic division. He held the post for just five months before taking on his new role as MD of International.

Before joining TNT UK, Jakobsen spent two years as TNT Italy MD where he drove the turnaround of TNT’s struggling Italian division.

Previous to that he was TNT regional general manager for Northern Europe, a role Jakobsen held for over eleven years.

TNT said Jakobsen’s brief in his new role is to drive the delivery of TNT’s Outlook strategy which is aimed at boosting growth and service levels across the company.

Jakobsen said: “I’m delighted to be joining the UK international business at such a key time. A number of significant investments have been made over the last six months such as the guaranteed pre 12:00 delivery service to all zip codes in Germany, a daily, scheduled road service to Istanbul and the introduction of first call resolution within the customer services environment.

"I look forward to building on these successes and growing the business in the second half of the year.”