The Go-Ahead Group has announced that Go East Anglia Managing Director Gavin Smith (pictured) will move to lead the team delivering its Fastrack contract in Kent Thameside. He will take up that role from 17 June.
Mr Smith will be succeeded in the East of England on an interim basis by Rupert Cox. Mr Cox was formerly a Regional Director with Stagecoach UK Bus and has been working with Go East Anglia on business development projects since 1 March.
In 2023 Go-Ahead secured a 15-year contract valued at £110 million for operation of the Kent Thameside Fastrack network. It will be mobilised in November, with a fleet of 28 Irizar ie Tram battery-electric buses to be deployed between then and April 2025.
Mr Smith took up responsibility for Go East Anglia in July 2022. His industry career began as a bus driver and it later included senior positions with Go-Ahead’s operations in London, Singapore and Australia.
Speaking about the change of responsibility for Mr Smith, Go-Ahead Managing Director, UK Regional Bus Martin Dean says: “We are excited to appoint an experienced leader in Gavin to the role as we move towards mobilisation of the [Fastrack] contract.
“Gavin’s expertise and focus on delivering high quality services will be crucial as we take on the responsibility for more than 2.5 million people who travel across the Fastrack network annually. We are also delighted that Rupert, a knowledgeable industry leader, has agreed to take on the role overseeing our East Anglian business, building on his extensive career in bus.”
Mr Smith will oversee the induction of over 100 new employees into Go-Ahead via takeover of the Kent Thameside Fastrack contract.
On his career with the group, Mr Smith adds: “Go-Ahead’s investment in people and development has enabled me to build a varied career in the decade I have been at the company, and I look forward to more success as we mobilise the Fastrack contract in the months to come.”
