Stagecoach’s new UK managing director, Carla Stockton-Jones becomes the first female head of a major private sector public transport operation in the UK. She succeeds the retiring Mark Threapleton and will report directly to the company’s chief executive, Martin Griffiths.
The announcement follows a period in which Stockton-Jones has led the company’s business transformation programme and Covid-19 recovery plans. She joined Stagecoach in February 2020 as regional director for the South of England and will be responsible for a company that now employs 24,000 people, operates 8,000 buses, coaches and trams, and has an annual turnover of around £1.3bn.
Stagecoach chief executive, Martin Griffiths, 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. I’m confident that with our strong leadership and committed frontline people we can come through the challenge of the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Carla Stockton-Jones, added, “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.”