Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) Managing Director Steve Warrener has been named incoming Chair of the Urban Transport Group (UTG). His appointment follows the two-year tenure as UTG Chair of West Midlands Combined Authority Chief Executive Laura Shoaf.
Mr Warrener is also Finance and Corporate Services Director of TfGM. He has been with the organisation for 15 years.
As MD he is responsible for day-to-day running of TfGM, and as Finance and Corporate Services Director he adds financial management and negotiation, procurement and commercial management of major service and infrastructure contracts to his remit.
As a qualified accountant, Steve Warrener has worked for KPMG and in senior financial roles with Manchester Airport and a number of private sector organisations in the UK and Europe.
Speaking about his appointment with UTG, he says: “It is a real privilege to have the chance to Chair the Urban Transport Group and to continue to work closely with colleagues across the city regions to tackle the challenges we face in delivering affordable, reliable and sustainable public transport.
“The cost of living crisis, the climate emergency and the aftermath of the pandemic make for a difficult operating environment for our member transport authorities – but they are fully committed to ensuring that transport plays its part in creating the greener, healthier and more prosperous city regions that we aspire to.
“Their work in delivering better bus, light rail and heavy rail services, and in making active travel easier, safer and more attractive, contributes to this goal. I am also keen to continue the important work of the Urban Transport Group in making the case for funding that enables this to happen.”
UTG expects to appoint a new Director over the coming months, a requirement created by incumbent Jonathan Bray’s decision to step down from that position in April.
