First Bus has announced that the business units of First South Yorkshire and First Midlands are being combined to form a single operating company; First South Yorkshire & Midlands. The operator said that the change, which came into effect on 1 June, is being made in a move to help support and protect the long term future of bus services in the region.
The business will be led by Nigel Eggleton, who is currently Managing Director for First Midlands, with his executive team of Kevin Belfield, Commercial Director; Carl Wooley, Engineering Director; and Rob Hughes, Operations Director, who will take over the three vacant director roles. This follows previous Commercial Director, Allan Riggall, recently taking on a new role as Head of Networks for the bus division.
Managing Director Nigel Eggleton said: “What a rollercoaster three months we have been working through, keeping our bus networks operational for key workers and people needing to make essential journeys and planning for the remobilisation of bus services as we ease out of lockdown.
“It has been an unprecedented time for us all and I am really proud of how professional, conscientious and caring our teams have been across all departments within the business, everyone has done a fantastic job.
“I am really pleased to be taking the helm with support from a very experienced team as we start to set out plans to develop and grow the business further by working closely with local government departments and key stakeholders across the three operating areas in Sheffield, Doncaster and Rotherham making up the First South Yorkshire operation.”
Garry Birmingham, who has taken on a new role as Programme Director, Carbon working across the UK Bus Division to ensure fleet and facility services meet the changing and evolving needs of our customers added, “I’ve been proud to have led this business with dedicated colleagues working hard for our customers. I am confident that Nigel and his team will build on this progress as we face a changing world of challenges and opportunities for public transport in the region.”
