Significant changes in Stagecoach’s top team in North America have been announced
NORTH AMERICA Dale Moser, long-serving President and Chief Operating Officer of Stagecoach Group’s North America division, has decided to relinquish his full-time executive role and has been appointed as the Division’s non-executive Chairman.
Linda Burtwistle, who has nearly 20 years’ experience in the public transport industry in the UK and North America, has become President and Chief Operating Officer. She reports directly to Martin Griffiths, Stagecoach Group Chief Executive.
Dale Moser has led the Group’s North America Division for the past 15 years and previously held leading positions in the transportation and logistics sector, including Laidlaw and Ryder System Inc. He is an executive director of the American Bus Association and his role as non-executive Chairman of Stagecoach’s North America division includes engagement with key government and other stakeholders.
Linda Burtwistle was previously with Stagecoach from 1996 and served as Chief Financial Officer of the Group’s North America Division between 2000 and 2004. She has also previously been Finance Director of Virgin Rail Group, the Stagecoach-Virgin joint venture which operates the West Coast rail franchise. She joined FirstGroup America in 2008, where most recently she was President of First Student until January 2014.
Martin said: “Dale has successfully led the North America division through a period of change and growth. He has helped fundamentally change the public perception of coach travel in the United States through the successful launch and growth of our megabus.com brand, which has carried more than 40m customers since 2006 and now has a footprint in around 40 US states and two provinces in Canada.
“In his new role as non-executive Chairman, we will continue to have access to Dale’s wide knowledge of the transportation market and the positive relationships he has built with key decision-makers at regional and national level.
“I am delighted to welcome Linda back to Stagecoach. She has extensive experience of the North America public transportation sector across different markets and her appointment will continue our sector-leading focus on safety, value, innovation and customer service.
“Her insight will be invaluable as we look to build on the strength of our commercial services, including megabus.com, which has revitalised the inter-city coach market in North America over the past decade.”
Dale said: “I’m proud to have led a team that has been a key part of the transformation of the bus sector in North America over the past decade. By focusing on customers, we have changed the way Americans view the bus, opened up new travel opportunities for citizens and created hundreds of jobs. I’m delighted that in my new role, I will continue to engage with government and other key agencies as part of our collective industry efforts to maximise the power of the bus to benefit our communities and our economy.”
Linda said: “I am looking forward to returning to Stagecoach and working with a dynamic business and committed group of employees. Stagecoach has always put new ideas and customers at the heart of its approach. I will be looking to build on that strong leadership and develop further the high quality transportation businesses we have across the United States and in Canada.”
