Peter Knight (pictured) is to take over as Managing Director of Stagecoach South West in December. He succeeds Mike Watson, who confirmed plans to stand down earlier this year.
Peter, who joined Stagecoach as a graduate management trainee in 2010, is currently Managing Director of Stagecoach Bluebird in the north-east of Scotland, will take over responsibility for a team of some 1,000 employees and 300 express and local bus services, working with stakeholders across operations in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset.
Peter brings experience from operational management roles in Teesside, Warwickshire and Merseyside, Stagecoach’s Megabus business in Itality, and as Operations Director for the Scottish Citylink joint venture. He became Managing Director of Stagecoach Bluebird in 2019, where he oversaw the roll-out of electric buses in Aberdeen.
“I’m really excited to be taking up the role as Managing Director of Stagecoach South West,” Peter says. “I’m looking forward to getting out and about and meeting our drivers and customers, as well as key stakeholders such as Devon County Council, and continuing our important work to re-build from some of the challenges we have faced coming out of the pandemic.
“I believe there are some great opportunities ahead as we look to move more people out of their cars and onto public transport, and I am determined to deliver a good and reliable bus service for our communities in the south-west.”
Adds Rupert Cox, Regional Director South for Stagecoach: “We’re pleased that our customers, stakeholders and employees in the south west will be able to benefit from Peter’s extensive experience of running coach and bus services across the country and more widely in Europe.
“I would also like to take the opportunity to thank Mike Watson for his continued efforts over the past three years leading the south-west team and more widely across Stagecoach over the past 11 years. We wish him all the best for the future.”
Plans are underway to recruit a new Managing Director for Stagecoach Bluebird.
