Incoming: A new Boss for Citybus

The Go-Ahead Group has appointed Richard Stevens (far right below) as the new Managing Director of Plymouth Citybus.

Richard is currently Operations/Commercial Director for Stagecoach South West. He will join Go-Ahead on 1 May and will succeed Andrew Wickham who was appointed Managing Director of Go South Coast at the end of last year.

David Brown, Group Chief Executive for Go-Ahead said: "I am delighted that Richard will be joining Go-Ahead to lead Plymouth Citybus. He has more than ten years' senior experience of working in the South West and significant knowledge of the bus industry. He will play a key role in further developing Plymouth Citybus' reputation as the community's customer-focused, local bus operator."

Before joining Stagecoach in 2004, Richard was Operations Director for First Devon and Cornwall. Prior to that he held a number of managerial roles in Devon and Cornwall and began his transport career in 1990 as a bus driver.

Richard said: "I am looking forward to taking up my new appointment with great enthusiasm, and to working with the Plymouth Citybus team and local stakeholders to deliver improvements to passengers."

Go Ahead Group

Its good to see that the new boss is very much a Westcountry man with experience with both Stagecoach and First Group. A quick Google search brings up quite a few local stories which show he is keen to get out there and be seen to represent his company including standing up for his drivers when there were issues with buses driving through Exeter City Centre. It can be a worrying time for staff when the ‘top job’ is vacant as you never know who you are going to get. By recruiting fairly locally many of the Citybus managers will probably already know the new Boss, or at least will know a bit about him.

I know he hasn't gone yet, but I would also like to give my thanks to Andrew Wickham who has supplied information and the occasional photo to Plymothian Transit in the fairly short time he has been in charge.

Photo © The Bus Industry Awards Limited 2006-2011

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