Stagecoach South West Managing Director (MD) Mike Watson has announced that he plans to stand down in January 2023.
He will remain in post over the next six months to lead the business while a successor is appointed.
Mike has more than 25 years in the bus sector. He began his career at the service planning department at London Transport Buses in 1996 and served with Go-Ahead and Arriva before joining Stagecoach as Operations Director at its North East business in 2011, where he spent 11 years in various senior roles across the Stagecoach group. He was appointed to lead Stagecoach South West on an interim basis in December 2019 and was confirmed as MD in February 2020, prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Latterly Mike has taken responsibility for some 1,000 employees and over 300 vehicles operating across Devon, Cornwall and Somerset.
“This is a really special part of the country and I’ve felt very privileged to have had the opportunity to be so closely involved in delivering vital bus services for our local communities,” he says. “The past few years of the pandemic have been very tough for everyone, and I’ve been very fortunate to have worked with such a committed team of passionate and professional people.
“Delivering high-quality public transport is a real partnership, and I would also like to thank our local authority partners and other stakeholders across the region for their support during my time as Managing Director.
“I will be sad to leave my amazing team at Stagecoach, but it’s now time for me to go and explore new opportunities elsewhere. I will use the last few months of my time here to complete delivery of our recovery plans that will leave our company in a much stronger position as we look to return service performance back to our previous high standards.
“I look forward to working closely with my successor and our wider stakeholders to ensure a seamless transition for the team.”
Adds Rupert Cox, Stagecoach Regional Director South: “I would like to thank Mike for his tireless efforts over the past eleven years in Stagecoach, including the past three years in leading the south-west team.
“During that time he has built up strong relationships with our local authority and other partners in the region and we would like to wish him well in the next stage of his career.”
