Brennan Set to Become First Female Postmaster General

WASHINGTON, DC—Patrick Donahoe, the Postmaster General and CEO of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), will end his 39-year career when he retires on Feb. 1, 2015. He will be replaced by Megan Brennan, current COO of the USPS, and the first woman to hold the office.

"Pat was the calm in the financial storm. He ignored the naysayers and went forward with his team and built a comprehensive plan for the future of the organization, made tough decisions, and executed against those decisions," said Board of Governors Chairman Mickey Barnett.

Donahoe became Postmaster General during a severe financial crisis, the result of an inflexible business model that limited the organization's ability to respond to declining First-Class Mail volumes. He created an integrated financial plan and took aggressive measures to control costs, including the rationalization of mail processing, delivery and Post Office operations. These changes have significantly lowered the cost base of the Postal Service.

Donahoe served as a constant cheerleader for mail as a marketing channel and pushed for more integration between mail and digital communications in the mailing industry. Under his leadership, the Postal Service launched several new mailing products and enhancements including Every Door Direct Mail, which has generated more than $1 billion in new revenue.

He also guided the organization's shipping and package strategies to capitalize on the rapid increase of e-commerce. In the last few years, the USPS has seen double-digit growth each year in its package business.