World Mail Awards' organiser Triangle Management Services has announced yet another new sponsor for the 2006 awards programme. World-leading IT solutions and services provider IBM has joined the growing list of major players in the technology and postal industries already supporting these premier international awards, now in their seventh year.

This year's ceremony in Paris on 10 May will see achievements recognised in 10 categories and, reflecting its commitment to excellence and best practice across the globe, IBM are sponsoring the mail industry's Transformation award. This will be given to a postal organisation which has gone through considerable change whilst focussing on meeting its mission and bottom-line results. The independent judges will look for evidence of widespread change and the application of private sector leading practice in transformation and operating efficiencies. Examples of such transformation may include updating the role of post offices to ensure profitability, rationalisation of the network, optimisation of labour and equipment resources, new labour agreement and outsourcing on non-core areas.

Cathy Rogerson, Partner at IBM Business Consulting Services in the USA, was keen to stress her company's commitment to the World Mail Awards: ''The worldwide mail industry has clearly recognised these awards as an important honours programme for some years now, and IBM is proud to be associated with such a prestigious line-up of international organisations promoting distinction in this arena.''

On behalf of Triangle, Chief Executive Neil Jackson was equally delighted with this new partnership: ''Bringing IBM on board to join our other recently-announced new sponsors Australia Post, Deutsche Post World Net and Emirates Post underlines yet again the evolution of the World Mail Awards into a major event in the calendar. IBM's reputation as an international leader in technology services and purveyor of excellence in its products is well-known, and we are extremely pleased that they have chosen to support these awards.''

World Mail Awards entries and nominations are invited from any postal-related organisation worldwide, large or small, including public or private postal operators, industry suppliers or organisations servicing the mail market. Applications can be made online using the interactive forms at www.mailawards.com. All entries must be received by 28 February 2006.

The full list of categories for which entries can now be made is:
• Corporate Social Responsibility
• Customer Service
• e-Commerce
• Innovation
• People Management
• Quality
• Security
• Technology
• Transformation

In addition, the winner of the prestigious Industry Leadership award will be determined by a special panel of distinguished judges, but is not open to public entries.

All categories will be judged by a panel of esteemed industry experts from around the world. The 2006 World Mail Awards will be presented at the Sofitel Forum Rive Gauche hotel in Paris on Wednesday 10 May, on the eve of the World Mail & Express European conference at the same venue. The industry's top performers will be rewarded for achievement across a range of categories at a black-tie Gala Dinner attended by over 300 of the leading figures in the global mail industry.

Applications for the 2006 World Mail Awards are now open, and more details on entering, including the entry forms, can be found at www.mailawards.com, or by calling the Triangle awards team on +44 (0)870 950 7900.
 

Notes for Editors:

• The first annual World Mail Awards (WMA) were presented in Paris in May 2000 – details of previous ceremonies and winners can be found at http://www.mailawards.com/wma_home.htm;

• World Mail & Express (WMX) events have been running since 1988, and are also organised by Triangle Management Services, based in the UK;

• 2006 will also see Mail and Express Summits in the UK and USA, as well as the London-based Mail Show and UK Mail Awards in October and November;

• Press delegates are welcome to attend – for more information on the WMA or WMX events, please contact events@triangle.eu.com.

Triangle Management Services Ltd, founded in 1984, is today the pre-eminent independent specialist management services company within the global mail, express and logistics sectors. Triangle offers the following services to clients: Recruitment, Market Research, Consultancy, Conferences and Mergers and Acquisitions - all of which focus primarily on the mail and express industry sectors.