Richard Thame has resigned from his position as CEO of CouriersPlease, effective 20 March 2025.
Thame took up the leadership role in 2022 after a two-year spell leading Snap Printing. He was previously the managing director at Fastway Couriers, where he notched up nearly 11 years.
“CouriersPlease is in the process of being sold, and I saw it as a good opportunity to move on and let them move to the next level. It was good timing,” Thame told Franchise Executives.
CouriersPlease sits within the FMH Group which Pacific Equity bought from SingPost for $775m in December 2024.
“The FMH team have terrific strength, and Pacific Equity has enormous resources; I’m confident the business will do well,” Thame said.
“I’m very proud of what we’ve achieved in the time I’ve been at CouriersPlease,” he added.
CouriersPlease acting CEO
FMH Group’s Susan Beling, has stepped in as acting CEO at Couriers Please. Beling is an experienced logistics leader, the group COO for fourth-party logistics and CEO for efm Logistics.
Simon Slagter, CEO, FMH Group, said the search for a replacement for Thame is already underway. The focus is on identifying a leader who will drive the company forward and deliver an outstanding customer experience.
“With a deep pool of incredible talent across our diverse organisation, we are fortunate to have the flexibility to re-direct resources to caretaker roles to ensure continued seamless operations during times of transition.
“This allows us the time and flexibility to begin the search for the right candidate to lead the company moving forward while also setting the tone for the standards we aim to uphold,” Slagter said.
Franchising future for Thame
Thame has plans to stay within the franchise sector, in an advisory or board capacity, or through investment.
“I’m at a stage in my career when I have the opportunity to do other things. Franchising has been very good to me and I’d like to do continue in franchising,” he said.
Thame, who has a consultancy business, will retain his position as chair of the Franchise Council of Australia.
