First Bus has appointed Catherine De Marco OBE as Partnerships Director. Ms De Marco arrives from the Department for Transport, where she enjoyed a 17-year career across areas that include local transport, skills and innovation, and most recently within rail passenger experience.
Ms De Marco joins the team led by Chief Sustainability and Compliance Officer Isabel McAllister – who was recruited by the business earlier this year as part of its executive leadership overhaul – and she will “work closely with our operating companies,” the group says in a statement.
First adds that the appointment comes “at a crucial time for the bus sector when strong partnerships with our local and national stakeholders have never been more important.” Ms De Marco’s insight and experience is something that the business “is keen to benefit from.”
Speaking on the appointment, Ms McAllister says: “I am delighted to welcome Catherine De Marco to the team. Her exceptional knowledge of the sector at both national and local levels will be invaluable for our stakeholders and help us to accelerate our net zero ambitions as well as delivering the best possible experience for our customers.”
Adds Ms De Marco: “I am delighted to be joining First Bus at this exciting time for the company and the sector as we respond to the changing needs and travel habits of our customers in the post-COVID-19 world and move to provide better, greener services in the future.”
Ms De Marco received an OBE for services to transport skills in the New Year Honours list for 2019.
