The Board of The Go-Ahead Group has announced that Christian Schreyer has agreed with the Board to stand down as Group Chief Executive at the end of October 2023, when he will be succeeded by Miguel Ángel Parras.
Christian, with 30 years’ transport experience, joined Go-Ahead in 2021. He led the business through the move from public to private ownership last October and agreed with the Board that he would continue with the execution of The Next Billion Journeys strategy, establish a new executive leadership team, resolve the issues in International Rail and deliver growth in the bus business through acquisitions and tender wins.
He will be succeeded on November 1st by Miguel Ángel Parras, Chief Investment Officer at Globalvia since 2019. Miguel led the acquisition of Go Ahead for the Globalvia consortium team from the origination of the transaction in early 2022. A Spanish national, Miguel has extensive experience in business development and financing investments in infrastructure and transportation. Prior to Globalvia, he spent ten years at FCC, a leading infrastructure group. He began his career in transport engineering and consultancy, with experience at INECO and PROES Consultores. He holds an MBA from IESE Business School.
The changes will take Go-Ahead to the next stage of its development, following last year’s takeover of the company by Kinetic and Globalvia. Go-Ahead remains fully focused on delivering outstanding bus and rail services for customers, and in working collaboratively with transport authorities in Britain and overseas.
As part of the Group’s succession plan, Clare Hollingsworth, Non-Executive Chair of Go-Ahead since October 2019, will stand down from the Board at the end of the year, after overseeing the change in ownership and transition in leadership. The Board will announce a successor in due course.
Christian Schreyer said: “Having created The Next Billion Journeys strategy, built a new executive leadership team, led the business through the Board recommended offer to take the business into private ownership and delivered priority projects, I have agreed with the Board that this is the right time to step down. I am very proud of the resilience shown by the business in adapting to change over the last two years. Successful service businesses are all about people, and Go-Ahead has some of the best in the industry. I wish Miguel and all my colleagues in Go-Ahead all the best for the future.”
Miguel Ángel Parras said: “The Go-Ahead Group is an exceptional company renowned for its excellence in bus and rail operations. I am thrilled to be entrusted with the role of CEO in such a dynamic business, taking the torch from Christian, a truly impressive professional. Public transport presents exciting prospects for growth, especially as the global landscape shifts towards a more sustainable, low-carbon future. I am delighted to become part of this organisation and eagerly anticipate the opportunity to connect with colleagues across the seven countries in which Go-Ahead operates.”
Clare Hollingsworth, Chair of the Board, said: “On behalf of the Board I thank Christian for his significant contribution over the last two years. He provided clear direction and focus to offset the uncertainty that often accompanies a change of ownership, enabling our bus business to deliver significant growth with the acquisitions of Flexbuss, Dartline, Southdown and Pulhams, as well as major tender wins among others in Manchester and a successful mobilisation. He also restructured our rail businesses in Germany and Norway. Christian leaves with the Board’s best wishes.
“I also extend a warm welcome to Miguel, whose depth of experience of successfully investing in transportation and infrastructure projects will strengthen the Board’s ability to identify and optimise the choices on offer.”
Photo credit: The Go-Ahead Group
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