Go North East (GNE) Managing Director Martijn Gilbert is to leave The Go-Ahead Group. He will take up the role with FirstGroup as MD of its Hull Trains and Lumo open-access train operating companies in September.
A concurrent reorganisation of responsibilities by Go-Ahead will see Go North West (GNW) MD Nigel Featham assume the same role with GNE after Mr Gilbert’s departure. Mr Featham will retain his leadership of the Manchester business. Go-Ahead will recruit an Area Director for the North East, who will report to Mr Featham.
In a further change, East Yorkshire Buses will no longer report into GNE. Instead, it will be accountable directly to Go-Ahead. As a result, current East Yorkshire Area Director Ben Gilligan will be promoted to Managing Director of that business. All the changes at Go-Ahead will occur in August.
Mr Featham has previous experience of running buses in GNE’s area. Between 2011 and 2019 he was Arriva’s Regional Managing Director for its operations in the North East and Yorkshire. He brings copious industry experience to the expanded role.
Go-Ahead MD for UK Regional Bus Martin Dean has congratulated Mr Featham and Mr Gilligan on their appointments. “Nigel is doing a fantastic job at GNW, turning around the performance of the Queens Road depot and leading our participation in Manchester’s bus franchising process.Â
“He has many years’ experience in the North East and is the ideal person to lead our business in the region. And Ben Gilligan has successfully integrated East Yorkshire Buses since we acquired the company in 2018.Â
“Go North East is a special company within the Go-Ahead Group. It is where our business originates, and I would like to extend my thanks to Martijn Gilbert for his leadership over the last four years.Â
“Achievements under Martijn’s management include introducing the North East’s first fleet of zero-emission buses, working with local authorities on successful funding bids, and delivering an outstanding daily service to passengers.”
