Stagecoach announces UK Bus management appointments

Transport group Stagecoach today (9 April 2012) announced a number of senior management appointments in its UK Bus division.

Stagecoach North East Managing Director John Conroy has announced his intention to retire at the end of June. He will be replaced by Phil Medlicott, current Managing Director, Stagecoach South East, who will begin a month-long handover on 1 June 2012.

As a result, Stagecoach UK Bus Commercial Manager Paul Southgate will become Managing Director, Stagecoach South East, effective from 1 June.

John Conroy began his working life in accounting and finance in 1964. His career in transport began in 1977 when he joined the Tyne & Wear Passenger Transport Executive as Metro Accountant and later became Financial Controller in 1980. When the industry was de-regulated in 1986 John became Finance Director and Company Secretary of Busways Travel Services Limited which became part of Stagecoach Group in 1994. In January 1995 he became Managing Director of Busways and in 2000, he was appointed as Managing Director of Transit which formed the current North East business covering both Tyne & Wear and Teesside.

Phil Medlicott began his career in the bus industry in 1983, becoming a driver and then holding a series of management posts at bus companies in Birkenhead, Runcorn and London. He joined Stagecoach in 2000 as Operations Director for Stagecoach South before being appointed as Managing Director, Stagecoach Warwickshire in 2006. He was appointed Stagecoach South East Managing Director in 2008.

Having started his career as a bus conductor in 1973, Paul Southgate also worked as a driver before becoming Manager of Hastings Topline Services, part of Southdown Motor Services, which was later taken over by Stagecoach. Since 1989, Paul has held a number of senior and commercial development posts with Stagecoach, including the post of Managing Director at Stagecoach Cumberland and Stagecoach East Kent. Most recently, he was Managing Director, Stagecoach North West until 2011 when he was appointed UK Bus Commercial Manager.

Stagecoach has also announced two changes to its UK Bus marketing team. Current Stagecoach North East Marketing Manager Jodine Milne has been appointed to a newly-created role of Stagecoach UK Bus Marketing Manager, effective from 1 May.

And from 1 June, Helen Martin, currently Marketing Manager at Stagecoach South and Stagecoach South East, will become Marketing Manager, Stagecoach North East.

Les Warneford, Managing Director of Stagecoach UK Bus, said: “I would like to thank John for his loyalty and commitment to Stagecoach for many years. His knowledge and experience has been invaluable and we wish him all the best in his retirement.

“I would also like to congratulate Phil and Paul on their appointments and look forward to continuing to work with them to make further improvements for bus passengers in north east and south east England.

“Congratulations also go to Jodine and Helen on their new roles. These appointments will further strengthen our marketing team and help attract even more people on to our greener, smarter services.”

For further information about Stagecoach bus services, visit www.stagecoachbus.com