Wrightbus has made further appointments and promotions in its sales and support teams, with that led by the naming of John McLeister (pictured, left foreground) as Managing Director of Sales for the UK and Ireland.
He joined Wrightbus as an apprentice at the age of 16 and takes on the responsibility of strengthening existing partnerships with customers and across the wider bus industry.
“Competition from abroad is increasing, and we must keep promoting the message that UK-built buses deliver enormous value, not only for operators but for local economies,” says Mr McLeister.
Meanwhile, Phil Owen (pictured, right foreground) – who joined Wrightbus in 2023 – has been appointed as Sales Director. The two elevations complement earlier recruitment into sales roles by the Ballymena manufacturer.
“This team has been, and continues to be, the voice of the customer, ensuring that frontline experience directly influences engineering, manufacturing, and aftersales strategies,” Mr McLeister continues.
“I am extremely proud to lead this group of people who have stood front and centre through both the most challenging periods and the most transformative years in Wrightbus history.”
Other recent appointments and promotions within the wider business include the arrival of Lee Fox as Managing Director Refurbishment and Mark Gilfeather as Service Director for Regional Operations, and David Murdoch’s move to Group Quality Director.
The restructure follows the naming of Axel Maschka as Wrightbus CEO in late 2025. A reshuffle of parts of the senior team represent a deliberate step in elevating Wrightbus’s product excellence and service capability, says Mr Maschka.
“Wrightbus has grown significantly in recent years. While we take pride in how far we have come, we must now shift up another gear if we are serious about scaling further,” he continues.
“The experience inside this organisation, especially among teams that have stayed loyal through thick and thin, is one of our greatest strengths. Our commitment to learning, improving and pushing for excellence across the entire group has never been stronger.”
