Stagecoach plans in place for a smooth handover

A FORMER clippie who rose to become managing director of Stagecoach’s UK bus division retires next year to be succeeded by another industry veteran.

Les Warneford, a former bus conductor and one of the UK bus industry’s longest-serving managing directors with 12 years in the post, has been a conductor, driver, clerk, traffic officer and traffic superintendent, before making the move into management.

Warneford’s successor, Robert Montgomery, currently Stagecoach’s service performance director, clipped his first tickets as a seasonal bus conductor in Paisley 40 years ago. Since graduating from the University of Glasgow in 1974, he has worked in management in the bus and coach sector.

Sir Brian Souter, chief executive of Perth-based Stagecoach, said: “Les has played a very significant role in Stagecoach’s success.

“He has headed a division which has provided consistently strong operational delivery, the best value fares to customers, huge levels of investment and industry-leading financial performance, as well as an exceptional track-record of passenger growth.”

Montgomery will take on the role of deputy managing director of the division next month and spend a year working closely with Warneford to ensure a smooth hand-over 12 months later.