Perth-based transport giant Stagecoach has today appointed a new managing director.
Britain’s largest bus, coach and tram operator has announced Carla Stockton-Jones as its new UK managing director. She will succeed Mark Threapleton, who retired in the summer.
She will be responsible for a business with 24,000 people, more than 8,000 buses, coaches and trams and an annual turnover of around £1.3 billion.
Ms Stockton-Jones joined Stagecoach in February as regional director South of England after holding senior positions with Sky since 2012. She was made interim managing director in July.
She has led Stagecoach’s business transformation programme and Covid-19 recovery plans, including engagement with the Department for Transport around the sector’s transition out of the pandemic.
She report directly to Stagecoach chief executive Martin Griffiths who said: “Carla has a proven track record in retail and service roles across a range of highly competitive sectors.
“She has a passion for delivering large-scale transformation programmes, fostering innovation and motivating teams to deliver results.
“These qualities will be invaluable as we look to deliver a more agile business supported by a talented and diverse team.
“I’m confident that with our strong leadership and committed frontline people we can come through the challenge of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We are in a strong position to maximise the significant opportunities for public transport as part of a green recovery, delivering safer, healthier and more prosperous places for people to live.”
Stagecoach said the company and its services underpin more than £1.6bn in economic value to the UK economy each year, as well as supporting 10,000 jobs in the supply chain and around 1 in 1,000 jobs.
Ms Stockton-Jones is the first woman to head a major private sector multi-modal public transport operation in the UK. The appointment is effective from today.
She said: “I’m proud to be heading the UK business as Stagecoach marks 40 years of keeping Britain connected. Stagecoach, its people and its services have made and continue to make a hugely positive impact on our economy, in our communities and in protecting our environment.
“Partnership is more important than ever if we are to give our communities the green transport connections they need.
“I’m absolutely committed to working closely with national government, the mayors in our biggest city regions, and our local authority partners and other stakeholders to make that happen.
“I’m also looking forward to continuing the work underway to ensure the business has the right shape so we can unlock new opportunities.
“I want to make the most of the diverse talent we have across Stagecoach, bring a fresh perspective to the business and ensure we are 100% focused on our current and future customers.”
In addition to her company roles, the new managing director has worked as a member of the board of cancer care charity Maggie’s since 2016.
