International Distributions Services plc (IDS) announced the appointment of Emma Gilthorpe as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Royal Mail Group. Emma will join the company on 1 May 2024 and will work closely with Martin Seidenberg, Group CEO of IDS plc, during an intensive induction process before taking over responsibility for Royal Mail Group in the summer. During this period Martin Seidenberg will continue as interim CEO of Royal Mail Group.

Emma is currently Chief Operating Officer at Heathrow Airport where she is responsible for the running of one of the world's busiest hub airports. Emma brings extensive experience of working in large, complex and high profile regulated infrastructure businesses and has a proven track record of delivering successful change programmes whilst improving operational performance and productivity. Emma has held a variety of senior roles at Heathrow since joining in 2009 including leading Strategy, Regulation and Sustainability.

Emma established and led Heathrow's expansion programme as well as overseeing the airport's response to the pandemic, ensuring demand could be met safely, sustainably and efficiently whilst driving up service levels. She previously worked in a variety of strategy, policy and commercial roles in the telecommunications sector at BT and Cable and Wireless. Emma Gilthorpe was appointed Chief Operating Officer of Heathrow Airport in 2020.

She has held a variety of senior roles at Heathrow Airport since joining in 2009 including leading Strategy, Regulation and Sustainability. Her experience includes leading Heathrow Airport's response to the pandemic, ensuring demand could be met safely, sustainably and efficiently whilst driving up service levels. Emma also established and led Heathrow's Expansion Programme which created and campaigned for a sustainable and affordable 30-year master plan, securing buy in from employees, politicians and a wide variety of stakeholders.

Prior to Heathrow Emma worked in the telecommunications sector in a variety of strategy, policy and commercial roles at BT and Cable and Wireless. During this time she campaigned for the creation of Openreach at arms-length from BT as well as devising a successful regulatory and economic strategy to deliver nationwide superfast broadband.