29/04/2002

Stagecoach Group announced today (29 April 2002) that Brian Cox, Executive Director, UK Bus, has indicated his intention to retire on 3 July 2002. On that date, he will also resign from the board of Stagecoach Group.

Les Warneford, UK Bus Managing Director, will assume overall responsibility for the UK Bus division, reporting to Group Chief Executive Keith Cochrane.

Brian Cox, who joined Stagecoach in 1987, spearheaded the company’s move into rail with the successful bid for the initial South West Trains franchise and was Chairman and Managing Director of South West Trains from 1996 to 1998. He became Executive Director of UK Bus in July 2000, where he led the reorganisation of UK Bus into 12 companies and the rebranding of the UK fleet.

Stagecoach Chairman Brian Souter said: “Stagecoach owes a lot to Brian Cox, who has made a huge contribution both at South West Trains and in heading up our UK Bus division.

“With over 30 years’ public transport experience, he is one of the few people to have worked in both buses and trains under nationalised and privatised regimes. On behalf of the Board, I would like to give Brian and his wife our best wishes for a long and happy retirement.”