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| Matt Cranwell, out-going MD at Stagecoach Cumbria & N Lancs.
(c) Stagecoach
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Bus industry trade journal Route One has reported big changes at Stagecoach. The company has created a "Business Change Team" to be run by a yet-to-be-named director and run by senior managers to create a major change to the way its UK bus division is run.
Stagecoach says: “The innovative new programme is designed to ensure Stagecoach is fit for the future across all parts of its UK Bus business and includes aspects relating to people, customers, commercial, safety and technology.”
The programme will be led by a newly-appointed Business Change Director. Stagecoach is “currently finalising this appointment and expects to confirm details shortly.”
But this development also has local implications, with a number of senior managers moving to new roles within the group. One such is Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire Managing Director Matt Cranwell, who is moving to manage Stagecoach East Midlands.
Matt Cranwell began his career in Stagecoach South through the company's graduate training programme in 2004. After holding several managerial posts, he joined Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire in 2012 as Operations Director. He then moved to Stagecoach North East as Operations Director in 2013 before being appointed MD, Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire in 2015.
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| Mark Whitelocks (c) Stagecoach |
He will be replaced in the top job at Carlisle by Mark Whitelocks, also a product of Stagecoach's graduate training scheme, who has previously held managerial positions at Stagecoach West and Stagecoach South West. In September 2013 he took on the role of Operations Director at Stagecoach East Scotland before being appointed MD, Stagecoach North Scotland in 2016.
Whilst it would appear that "our" bit of Stagecoach (Cumbria & North Lancs.) is seen as a stepping stone for Stagecoach's younger high-fliers bound for greater things, the Bus Users' Group will be sorry to see Matt Cranwell go. Matt and his team have been co-operative with the Group and always ready to listen to what we have to say. Under his leadership the company has actively sought out the views of bus users before making changes and, where possible, has adapted those changes to better suit the needs of passengers.
In a message to the Bus Users Group following the announcement Matt said:
I have very much enjoyed my time here and so I will be sad to go. I really appreciate all the support and constructive feedback we have had from the Lancaster Bus Users Group during my time here, that has helped shape our ideas and business to meet the needs of the customers.
My successor will certainly appreciate this continued strong relationship we have. It is currently looking like the 18th June as a start date, once he has tied up lose ends in North Scotland.
The Bus Users Group is looking forward to welcoming Mark Whitelocks to his new role and to working with him to continue to develop the good working relationship that has grown up between the Group and the company.