Adam Crozier ‘would have known about Horizon problems’
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Adam Crozier, the former chief executive of Royal Mail, would have been aware about the faulty Horizon IT system after it was identified as “problematic” by his technology specialists, an insider has claimed.
A former Royal Mail IT manager told the BBC that concerns about the Post Office software were discussed by senior management but that resolving the problems was not considered a priority.
The unnamed man, identified by the BBC as Tony, was contracted to work for Royal Mail’s technology leadership team from 2007 to 2009.
“We were certainly discussing the fact that Horizon was problematic and needed to be replaced,” he told BBC Five Live.
Asked whether Mr Crozier would have known about the problems, Tony said he would “struggle to think” the chief executive was not alerted “at some point”.
He added that reports he submitted would probably have been forwarded on by Royal Mail’s chief information officer.
Tony said the Post Office, which formed part of Royal Mail before it became independent in 2012, was never deemed to be a “problem child”, with Royal Mail executives likely to have been more focused on improving profitability following a decline in the use of letters.
“The fact that nobody joined the dots is what I find incredulous,” he said.
Mr Crozier has denied any involvement with Horizon. He served as chief executive from 2003 to 2010 before he was succeeded by Canadian Dame Moya Greene.
In a statement released on Tuesday night, Mr Crozier said: “I would like to express my heartfelt sympathies to the individuals and families who were so wronged by the tragic miscarriages of justice and for whom justice has been denied so long.
“I can only imagine it must have been a dreadful experience for everyone concerned.
“While I did not have any involvement in the Horizon issue during my time at Royal Mail, I feel deeply sorry for those whose lives were ruined by what happened, and stand ready to participate in the inquiry’s continued efforts to make sure this tragic situation never happens again.”
Mr Crozier, a former chief executive of the Football Association and ITV, is the current chairman of BT and has been previously criticised for his role at the Royal Mail in the Horizon scandal.
In evidence to the public inquiry, postmasters questioned why Mr Crozier had been rewarded with lucrative appointments.
One said: “They were the people who were the head of the Post Office when my trial was going on...What are they doing now? Chairman of BT. So they don’t have to go through all these checks and all that.
“It’s just only for the common people. The people in the authorities, they can just ... we took you to court, you are criminal, we ruined your life, but forget it.”
