May 7, 2026, 12:25 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Deutsche Post is losing its traditional name. The Bonn-based company will now operate under the DHL brand. This change reflects a long-standing international focus that is now being formally recognized. The transition will bring significant structural changes for employees and the organization.
At the annual general meeting, Deutsche Post shareholders approved a proposal from the board to operate the company under the name DHL in the future. The decision was nearly unanimous. The change is expected to take effect on September 1, once it is registered in the commercial register.
Name “Post” No Longer Timely
CEO Tobias Meyer stated that the company has long moved away from its origins as the state-run Bundespost and is now a globally operating logistics group. The previous structure was historically developed and no longer meets current requirements.
Previously, the company had already adjusted its brand strategy and shortened the name to Deutsche Post DHL. With this current step, the legal designation is also changing. In the future, the company will be listed on the stock exchange under DHL. The renaming and restructuring will incur costs of around 37 million euros.
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Mail and Parcel Business Spun Off
As part of the realignment, the traditional mail and parcel business will be organizationally separated. This area, which now accounts for only about one-fifth of the total business, will be transferred to an independent company. This will continue to bear the name Deutsche Post AG and will manage the domestic business.
The new unit will have its own supervisory bodies, including a supervisory board. The additional expenses for administration and committees are estimated at about three million euros per year. More than 180,000 employees are affected by the organizational change and will move to the new company.
Previously, this area was part of the corporate holding, a structure that dates back to its time as a state enterprise. In the future, however, the mail and parcel business will stand on equal footing with other divisions such as express and freight logistics.
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From State Enterprise to Global Logistics Provider
Deutsche Post emerged from the former Bundespost, which was gradually privatized in the 1990s. A decisive impetus for international expansion came with the complete acquisition of the U.S. company DHL in 2002.
The name DHL is derived from the initials of its founders Adrian Dalsey, Larry Hillblom, and Robert Lynn. Today, the company employs around 534,000 people, about one-third of whom are in Germany.
According to the company, the restructuring will not affect working conditions. Wages, working hours, and existing protection regulations will remain unchanged. No personnel changes in the management level are planned.