The managing director of Brighton and Hove Buses, Martin Harris, is to retire at the end of November after eight years in charge.
Mr Harris started his career on the buses in 1980 as a management trainee.
He became the business manager of Brighton and Hove Buses in 1986, helping to grow the company in its formative years.
The company became part of the Go-Ahead Group and Mr Harris has continued to hold senior roles across the wider company ever since.
He became the commercial director of Go-Ahead’s north east bus operations in 1996 and merged four existing brands into one, Go North East.
In 2013 he became the managing director of both Brighton and Hove Buses and Metrobus – two of Britain’s busiest bus companies.
Go-Ahead said: “Under his leadership, both areas have seen passenger growth – bucking a trend of falling bus usage across the country.
“His retirement comes after a successful 40-year career in the bus sector. His ground-breaking work as managing director has focused on community, partnerships, innovation, diversity and inclusion.
“He has focused on keeping communities connected through initiatives such as the introduction of tap-on, tap-off technology and the launch of 52 extended-range hybrid buses that switch to zero emission with a switch of a button.
“Brighton and Hove has more bus journeys per head of population than any other UK city outside of London.
“Under Martin’s leadership, Brighton and Hove and Metrobus has become a pioneer for diversity and inclusion.
“His initiatives include launching the first Bus and Rail Inclusion Conference, championing successful female driver recruitment campaigns and introducing the bus sector’s first ever accessibility manager role.
“In 2019, Brighton and Hove and Metrobus was named only one of two public transport providers in England to achieve the highest status under the Department for Transport’s Inclusive Transport Leaders scheme.”
Mr Harris said: “It is with a heavy heart that I will be saying goodbye to a business and its people that have been part of my life for so long.
“After 41 years of service, I believe it’s the right time for the business and for my family and to develop other projects.
“It has been a true privilege to be the managing director of Brighton and Hove and Metrobus for the last eight years.
“I’ve met so many extraordinary people on the way, including the amazing community champions we celebrate on the side of our buses, the charities and access groups who challenge us to see things differently and of course the many inspiring colleagues that work day-in, day-out to provide our services and to make us more than just a bus company.
“It’s been so rewarding to have worked in an industry that makes such a difference to people’s daily lives.”
Go-Ahead said: “Throughout his long career, Martin has collaborated with charities, councils and organisations to benefit local communities.
“In the mid-1980s he introduced the bus sector’s first AIDS and HIV policy and has continued to deliver ground-breaking work to benefit the sector and passengers.
“His work on developing the Brighton Quality Bus Partnership is seen as a benchmark for the bus sector.”
Go-Ahead Group chief executive David Brown said: “We’re sad to see Martin go after such a long and successful career at Go-Ahead.
“I’ve seen first-hand how he has delivered for passengers and communities and admired his passion for getting into every task at hand.
“Whether he’s pioneering new technologies, forging a local authority partnership or working with charities and community organisations, he has continued to set a standard for how a bus company should operate.
“I wish Martin the best of luck in his retirement. Although he’s stepping down from the busy role of managing director, I’m sure he will remain a familiar face in Brighton and the community.”
In addition to his work at Go-Ahead, Mr Harris sits on the board of the Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership and Transport for the South East.
He also chairs the UNESCO Brighton and Lewes Downs Biosphere and is a trustee board member of the East Sussex Credit Union Foundation.
Go-Ahead said that it would start the process to recruit Martin’s replacement shortly.
