Big moves at the top for Camelon coachbuilder

Alexander Dennis Ltd (ADL) said farewell to its chief executive and got ready to greet a new top man from the Far East this week.
By James Trimble
Published 17th Jun 2020, 14:58 BST
Updated 17th Jun 2020, 14:59 BST
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ADL’s current chief executive Colin Robertson is off to join the board of the Camelon coachbuilder’s parent company the NFI Group, while Paul Davies takes over as ADL president and managing director.

As part of NFI’s acquisition of ADL in May 2019, Colin Robertson agreed to remain in his current role until May 2020, which has now been extended to September 30, 2020.

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This extension will allow for a period of transition to provide a seamless handover to Paul and to ensure business continuity.

Executive Colin Robertson, pictured left, who, having spearheaded Alexander Dennis Ltd's success for 13 years, will be appointed to NFI’s Board of Directors to serve in the role as vice chairman and will be succeeded by Paul Davies, pictured right as ADL’s president and managing director.Executive Colin Robertson, pictured left, who, having spearheaded Alexander Dennis Ltd's success for 13 years, will be appointed to NFI’s Board of Directors to serve in the role as vice chairman and will be succeeded by Paul Davies, pictured right as ADL’s president and managing director.
Executive Colin Robertson, pictured left, who, having spearheaded Alexander Dennis Ltd's success for 13 years, will be appointed to NFI’s Board of Directors to serve in the role as vice chairman and will be succeeded by Paul Davies, pictured right as ADL’s president and managing director.

Paul joined Alexander Dennis in 1997 and has over 25 years of automotive and rail industry experience. As regional managing director based in Hong Kong, he led the company’s long-term profitable growth in the Asia Pacific region for the past 20 years.

Upon being appointed to the NFI Board in September in the new role as vice chairman, Colin will assist board chairman, the Honourable Brian Tobin O.C. P.C., and Paul Soubry, the president and chief executive officer of NFI, in supporting NFI’s international growth.

Colin draws on over 30 years of operational and senior leadership experience in manufacturing, including his 13 years as chief executive of ADL.

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During his tenure, Colin transformed ADL into the UK bus market leader and global leader for double deck buses.

Under his leadership, which continued after NFI’s acquisition of ADL in May 2019, ADL has been consistently profitable with annual turnover increasing nearly fourfold to £631 million.

Colin is also the chairman of Entrepreneurial Scotland and was awarded a CBE in 2019 for his services to exports and to the bus and coach manufacturing sector.

He said: “Leading ADL has been exciting and extremely rewarding. I am fiercely proud of what has been achieved through the hard work of the entire team and the collaborative partnerships we’ve developed with our suppliers and customers.

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“I know the company will be in fantastic hands. Paul has been a key member of the executive team and lives and breathes ADL’s mission and values. With his thorough understanding of our business and the wider industry, I have every confidence that Paul will bring further success to ADL””

Paul added: “I’ve been very fortunate to have worked for Colin for the past 13 years and I am deeply honoured to have been selected to take on the challenge of continuing the amazing journey we’ve experienced under his leadership.

“I look forward to continue working with the NFI and ADL teams and our partners to provide world-class transport solutions that deliver for our customers.”