SAN DIEGO, Feb. 16, 2011  Mail Boxes Etc., Inc. (MBE), franchisor of The UPS Store  brand, has appointed Chris Adkins its vice president of sales. Adkins will oversee domestic franchise sales and real estate development for the world's largest retail system of shipping, postal, print, document and business services.

Adkins, a 26-year UPS veteran, assumes his new position after spending five years as a director of strategic accounts in Kansas. In this role, he managed key UPS customer accounts in various sectors including online retail, healthcare, manufacturing and business services. In 2009, Adkins received the UPS World of Champions Award, which recognizes the top 20 percent of UPS sales associates around the world. Earlier in his career, Chris moved through a variety of UPS sales positions, including district sales, region national account manager and district director of sales.

" We are delighted to have Chris join MBE to focus on accelerating the development of The UPS Store network domestically," said Stuart Mathis, president of MBE. "Chris brings with him over two decades of sales and business development experience as well as a strong understanding of the overall UPS enterprise."

In his new role, Adkins will be based out of MBE's San Diego headquarters and will work closely with the network's area franchisees and corporate area development staff to identify untapped markets for development as well as build franchise sales leads.

With more than 4,700 locations, The UPS Store and Mail Boxes Etc. network comprises the world's largest franchise system of retail shipping, postal, print and business service centers throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. In the United States and Puerto Rico, The UPS Store and Mail Boxes Etc. locations are independently owned and operated by licensed franchisees of Mail Boxes Etc., Inc., a UPS subsidiary. In Canada, locations are independently owned and operated by licensed franchisees of master licensee MBEC Communications, L.P

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