Go-Ahead Group Chief Executive Christian Schreyer (pictured, above) will leave the businesses at the end of October. His successor is Miguel Angel Parras (pictured, below). Non-Executive Chair Clare Hollingsworth is also to depart, and will do so and the end of 2023.
Mr Schreyer joined from Transdev in 2021, succeeding David Brown. News of his departure follows Go-Ahead’s sale out of publicly-traded ownership and into the hands of a consortium made up of Australasian bus operator Kinetic Group and transport concession manager Globalvia Inversiones, which was completed in October 2022.
Go-Ahead says that Mr Schreyer agreed to remain with the group after that to continue the execution of its Next Billion Journeys strategy, establish a new executive leadership team, resolve issues in international rail, and deliver growth in bus via acquisitions and contracts.
Mr Parras is currently Globalvia Chief Investment Officer, a post he has held since 2019.
He led acquisition of Go-Ahead for Globalvia’s consortium team and has extensive experience in business development and the financing of investments. His CV also includes time spent in transport engineering and consultancy.
In announcing the change, Go-Ahead says that it will take the group “to the next stage of its development.” A successor to Ms Hollingsworth will be announced in due course.
Mr Schreyer says now “is the right time to step down,” after delivered the change in ownership and what he describes as “priority projects.”
Adds Mr Schreyer: “I am very proud of the resilience shown by the business in adapting to change over the last two years. Successful service businesses are all about people, and Go-Ahead has some of the best in the industry. I wish Miguel and my colleagues in Go-Ahead all the best for the future.”
Mr Parras has outlined a belief that public transport “presents exciting prospects for growth, especially as the global landscape shifts towards a more sustainable, low-carbon future.
“I am delighted to become part of this organisation and eagerly anticipate the opportunity to connect with colleagues across the seven countries in which Go-Ahead operates.”
Expansion in the domestic coach and bus market under Mr Schreyer’s guidance included deals to purchase Southdown Buses in February, Dartline Coaches in March, and Pulham’s Travel in June.
Meanwhile, subsidiary Go North West – born out of an earlier depot acquisition in Greater Manchester – was the major winner in the first tranche of bus franchising in that conurbation, taking up both large local service contracts in September.
