Bus company Stagecoach has appointed a new Managing Director in the South West.
Peter Knight will take the role in December. He is currently Managing Director of Stagecoach Bluebird running bus and coach services across North East Scotland.
He will be responsible for around 1,000 employees and more than 300 vital express and local bus services connecting communities across the South West.
A key part of the role is working with stakeholders across Devon, Cornwall and Somerset.
Mr Knight said: “I’m really excited to be taking up the role as Managing Director of Stagecoach South West. I’m looking forward to getting out and about and meeting our drivers and customers, as well as key stakeholders such as Devon County Council, and continuing our important work to re-build from some of the challenges we have faced coming out of the pandemic.
“I believe there are some great opportunities ahead as we look to move more people out of their cars and onto public transport, and I am determined to deliver a good and reliable bus service for our communities in the South West.”
He joined Stagecoach in 2010 as a graduate management trainee in Chesterfield, before quickly progressing through the company with time spent working across the country in a variety of operational management roles in Teesside, Warwickshire and Merseyside.
He then worked at Stagecoach’s megabus business in Italy, before moving to Operations Director for Scottish Citylink, Stagecoach’s joint venture business in Scotland with ComfortDelGro.
He has been Managing Director of Stagecoach Bluebird since 2019.
Mr Knight was named winner of the ‘Young Industry Professional’ award in the UK Coach Awards in 2018 and has overseen the roll out of a new fleet of electric buses in Aberdeen.
He will succeed Mike Watson, who has led the business for the past three years, and confirmed earlier this year his plans to stand down.
Rupert Cox, Regional Director South for Stagecoach, said: “I would also like to take the opportunity to thank Mike Watson for his continued efforts over the past three years leading the south-west team and more widely across Stagecoach over the past 11 years. We wish him all the best for the future.”
Plans are underway to recruit a new Managing Director for Stagecoach Bluebird.
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