New appointment is a first for Falkirk bus operator Stagecoach

Carla Stockton-Jones is the Stagecoach’s new managing director – the first woman to head a major private sector multi-modal public transport operation in the UK.

The appointment follows a thorough competitive process involving internal and external candidates over a number of months. She succeeds Mark Threapleton, who retired this summer.

Carla will be responsible for a business with 24,000 people, more than 8000 buses, coaches and trams and an annual turnover of around £1.3 billion.

She joined Stagecoach in February as a regional director after holding senior positions with Sky since 2012, gaining sales and service experience across a range of sectors, including fast-moving consumer goods, media and technology.

Carla has been the interim UK managing director since July and has been leading Stagecoach’s business transformation programme and COVID-19 recovery plans, including engagement with the Department for Transport around the sector's transition out of the pandemic.

Stagecoach chief executive Martin Griffiths said: “Carla has a proven track record in retail and service roles across a range of highly competitive sectors. She has a passion for delivering large-scale transformation programmes, fostering innovation and motivating teams to deliver results.

“These qualities will be invaluable as we look to deliver a more agile business supported by a talented and diverse team.”

Carla added: “I want to make the most of the diverse talent we have across Stagecoach, bring a fresh perspective to the business and ensure we are 100 per cent focused on our current and future customers.”