On June 16, 2020, Louis DeJoy, a successful businessman from the private sector and Republican Party fundraiser, was sworn in to serve as the USPS CEO and our nation’s 75th US Postmaster General. DeJoy was appointed in May by a unanimous selection of the USPS Board of Governors.
DeJoy represents a new era of Postmaster General because he is not a career postal employee unlike his predecessors dating back over 19-years. John Potter served from 2001-2011. He was a second generation postal person, and his career spanned over 30-years. Up next was Patrick Donahoe, USPMG from 2011-2015. Donahoe worked at the US Postal service for over 35-years before retirement. And finally, there is Megan Brennan, the first female USPMG. Megan started as a letter carrier in 1986 and grew through the ranks during her 29-year career.
75th USPMG Lois DeJoy
DeJoy’s career prior to the USPS was serving as chairman and CEO of New Breed Logistics. He spent decades in collaboration with the U.S. Postal Service, Boeing, Verizon, other public and private companies to provide supply chain logistics, program management and transportation support. New Breed Logistics was a contractor to the U.S. Postal Service for more than 25 years, supplying logistics support for multiple processing facilities.
In 2014, New Breed merged with XPO Logistics, with DeJoy serving as CEO of XPO Logistics’ supply chain business in the Americas before his retirement in December 2015. He then joined the company’s board of directors where he served until 2018.
To some, Mr DeJoy is expected to be in alignment with the current administration because of his political background and affiliations, but for right now, we don’t know. The postal unions are likely to be leery of him because of his political background and because he’s an outsider. The unions are unlikely to give him any slack, and will test his ability to deal with organized labor.
His biggest challenge will be dealing with the mailing industry, the businesses who bring the USPS’ lion’s share of revenue, and whose support he needs. Since Amazon is one of the USPS best clients, the tumultuous relationship between Trump and Bezos may have a determining factor on future policy for the USPS. Mr. DeJoy has donated over $300,000 towards the president’s re-election campaign since January of this year.
In the meantime, it is unclear what direction Mr. DeJoy will take the US Postal or what his long-term vision is for the struggling entity. We will keep you abreast of progress as it unfolds which should be unveiled by August.