Stagecoach appoints new Managing Director of Manchester bus operations

Stagecoach has announced Elizabeth Tasker has been appointed Managing Director of its bus operations in Manchester and Wigan.

Currently Elizabeth Tasker Managing Director of Stagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire, she will take up her new post on 1 November 2016.

She succeeds current Manchester and Wigan Managing Director Chris Bowles, who is stepping down from the role after a bus industry career spanning 42 years. He will remain with Stagecoach for up to 12 months, reporting directly to Stagecoach UK Bus Managing Director Robert Montgomery, to help develop the future strategy for the company’s bus network in Greater Manchester, before retiring in 2017.

Elisabeth Tasker has 30 years’ experience in the transport industry. During the first part of her career she worked in transport logistics within the heavy goods industry before joining Stagecoach Manchester as Operations Director in 2000. In 2011, she was appointed Managing Director of Stagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire.

Stagecoach Manchester and Wigan has 2,350 employees, including 1,800 drivers, running 800 buses out of six depots on 600 routes across the region.

Elisabeth Tasker said: “I am delighted to be returning to the Manchester area. It is one of the biggest and most important regions in the country and has a public transport network to rival any other UK city, including London.

“Buses play a key role in delivering connectivity, providing good value links to education, employment, health and leisure facilities and contributing significantly to the local economy. However, it’s clear there are tough decisions to be made in the future if we are to unleash the full potential of the bus network. Traffic congestion is strangling the city of Manchester and I look forward to working with our partners to deliver solutions which will help buses flourish and deliver even better services to the millions of customers who rely on the bus network every year.”

Robert Montgomery, Stagecoach UK Bus Managing Director, added: “I would like to congratulate Elisabeth on her appointment. Her previous experience in Manchester, and in Merseyside and South Lancashire, will serve her well in building on the many improvements that have been delivered for customers in Manchester and Wigan in recent years.

“With the launch of our new smartphone app and mobile ticketing this week, we are continuing to drive forward bus services in the area and we look forward to working with our many partners to resolve the growing issue of congestion and attract even more people on to our greener, smarter bus services in the future.”