National Express UK and Germany CEO Alex Jensen (pictured) has left the business after 18 months in post, it has been confirmed.
Ms Jensen succeeded Tom Stables when she joined in August 2023. Kevin Gale, who is Safety, Operations and Maintenance Director at parent Mobico Group, will now become National Express UK and Germany CEO. He “has already begun transitioning into the role,” a spokesperson for Mobico advises.
They add that Ms Jensen “has decided to leave the business after leading a significant turnaround, and we wish her well for the future.”
Mr Gale has more than 30 years’ transport experience, beginning in the rail industry before moving to National Express in 2013. There and with Mobico he has held various senior positions, including National Express Chief Operating Officer for the UK and Germany and Group Operations Director of Mobico, according to his LinkedIn profile.
After her appointment, Ms Jensen advocated a data- and investment-led approach for National Express in an interview with routeone during early 2024. While its scheduled coach arm was growing strongly at that time, she noted that “right-sizing” efforts were still underway at the National Express Transport Solutions business.
A Mobico trading update for Q1 2024 had noted how good progress on that work was being made. But in a likely indication of the scale of the turnaround challenge at National Express Transport Solutions, under Ms Jensen’s tenure the decision was made to close both the Clarkes of London operating centre in Sydenham and The Kings Ferry’s base in Gillingham.
More recently, the Stewarts Coaches business in Reading was sold to The Coach Travel Group, which is led by Mr Stables.
