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+--- Thread: GNE Recent Appointments (/showthread.php?tid=4166)
GNE Recent Appointments - RobinHood - 13 Nov 2022
Appears that (via LinkedIn), Go North East have taken on two ex-Arriva managers into roles called 'Business Improvement Managers'.
Clearly shows the business is struggling, given the requirement for roles like this, but more to the point, is Nigel Feetham pulling in faces he wants/trusts over existing people in the business? Hopefully not.
RE: GNE Recent Appointments - Andreos1 - 13 Nov 2022
(13 Nov 2022, 9:38 pm)RobinHood wrote Appears that (via LinkedIn), Go North East have taken on two ex-Arriva managers into roles called 'Business Improvement Managers'.
Clearly shows the business is struggling, given the requirement for roles like this, but more to the point, is Nigel Feetham pulling in faces he wants/trusts over existing people in the business? Hopefully not.
Dunno why he hasn't approached faces on here to be honest.
It may be better than relying on nepotism and cronyism to get things sorted.
But we've all seen and heard how good Nigel is with his employee relation skills.
RE: GNE Recent Appointments - Unber43 - 13 Nov 2022
(13 Nov 2022, 9:43 pm)Andreos1 wrote Dunno why he hasn't approached faces on here to be honest.We are all from the NE so we would all be useless
It may be better than relying on nepotism and cronyism to get things sorted.
But we've all seen and heard how good Nigel is with his employee relation skills.
RE: GNE Recent Appointments - DeltaMan - 13 Nov 2022
Last bus company I knew that brought in a 'business improvement manager' / troubleshooter ended up with 3 MDs in 5 years and a massive driver shortage, even before covid....
GNE Recent Appointments - Dan - 14 Nov 2022
(13 Nov 2022, 9:38 pm)RobinHood wrote Appears that (via LinkedIn), Go North East have taken on two ex-Arriva managers into roles called 'Business Improvement Managers'.
Clearly shows the business is struggling, given the requirement for roles like this, but more to the point, is Nigel Feetham pulling in faces he wants/trusts over existing people in the business? Hopefully not.
You’ll shortly see a third ex-Arriva appointment, in the role as a Business Director…
Of course, a lot of the appointments within Go North West were also external, ex-Arriva, managers that Nigel knew from his previous life.
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RE: GNE Recent Appointments - RobinHood - 14 Nov 2022
(14 Nov 2022, 5:14 am)Dan wrote You’ll shortly see a third ex-Arriva appointment, in the role as a Business Director…
Of course, a lot of the appointments within Go North West were also external, ex-Arriva, managers that Nigel knew from his previous life.
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I've heard that someone who was a General Manager from Arriva Yorkshire is joining, plus even rumours from some that ex-ANE AMD Nick Knox is involved in some capacity.
Given the revolution imposed at Arriva back in 2014 by Nigel and Nick (mass network changes, PVR reductions etc), I'm expecting similar treatment for GNE.
RE: GNE Recent Appointments - Unber43 - 14 Nov 2022
(14 Nov 2022, 7:41 am)RobinHood wrote I've heard that someone who was a General Manager from Arriva Yorkshire is joining, plus even rumours from some that ex-ANE AMD Nick Knox is involved in some capacity.Mass Network changes aren't anything new, its happened atleast twice, maybe three times in 11 months.
Given the revolution imposed at Arriva back in 2014 by Nigel and Nick (mass network changes, PVR reductions etc), I'm expecting similar treatment for GNE.
RE: GNE Recent Appointments - Storx - 14 Nov 2022
(14 Nov 2022, 7:41 am)RobinHood wrote I've heard that someone who was a General Manager from Arriva Yorkshire is joining, plus even rumours from some that ex-ANE AMD Nick Knox is involved in some capacity.
Given the revolution imposed at Arriva back in 2014 by Nigel and Nick (mass network changes, PVR reductions etc), I'm expecting similar treatment for GNE.
It's virtually impossible to do PVR reductions there's nothing left to cut and has been the tactic for the best part of 10 year.
GNE has cut a lot more than Arriva did under Feetham under their MD's. They were just hidden by fancy repaints every other week.
RE: GNE Recent Appointments - Ambassador - 14 Nov 2022
Not sure there's anything too out of the ordinary about a new manager bringing in trusted/fresh faces to support him in the role.
He's not exactly going into a business that is currently overawed by success and strong leadership...
GNE Recent Appointments - streetdeckfan - 14 Nov 2022
Maybe they need to bring in a Commercial Development Manager from Arriva as well, I hear the current one is a bit of a handful!
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RE: GNE Recent Appointments - MurdnunoC - 14 Nov 2022
(14 Nov 2022, 10:16 am)streetdeckfan wrote Maybe they need to bring in a Commercial Development Manager from Arriva as well, I hear the current one is a bit of a handful!
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He's done so many propa maad things blad, and he's down with the street tho innit? GNE need to utilise those mad skillz to get the yout of the future onboard as paying punters cuz.
RE: GNE Recent Appointments - busmanT - 14 Nov 2022
(14 Nov 2022, 5:14 am)Dan wrote You’ll shortly see a third ex-Arriva appointment, in the role as a Business Director…There will be more directors and managers than PVR at this rate!
Of course, a lot of the appointments within Go North West were also external, ex-Arriva, managers that Nigel knew from his previous life.
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RE: GNE Recent Appointments - Dan - 14 Nov 2022
(14 Nov 2022, 10:16 am)streetdeckfan wrote Maybe they need to bring in a Commercial Development Manager from Arriva as well, I hear the current one is a bit of a handful!
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There may be no commercials left to develop!
GNE Recent Appointments - cbma06 - 14 Nov 2022
(14 Nov 2022, 4:46 pm)Dan wrote There may be no commercials left to develop!
Need someone at GNE who can develop something like pdf black and white timetables instead of the whole uk using that shitty digital version, and also someone at GNE who can make decisions like un branding all these waste of space brands and start painting buses back in corporate colours. [emoji848]
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RE: GNE Recent Appointments - Unber43 - 14 Nov 2022
No wonder the fares are going up, they need a way to pay for all these appointments..lets see where we are in the next 12 months.
Anyone any guesses on the amount of major services change (e.g frequency cuts, cancelled routes) there will be?
RE: GNE Recent Appointments - L469 YVK - 14 Nov 2022
To give NF credit, the Northumbria network (although got it slightly wrong in 2012) was stabilised.
RE: GNE Recent Appointments - Storx - 14 Nov 2022
(14 Nov 2022, 8:58 pm)L469 YVK wrote To give NF credit, the Northumbria network (although got it slightly wrong in 2012) was stabilised.
We don't agree very often but have to agree with this, same with the whole area really.
One thing that's noticeable about Arriva under him was the abolishment of 'local' routes give or take and it made a much better network from it. Peterlee for example is a prime example of it and I know there was similar changes down in Redcar aswell and up in Northumbria; the X20 being extended to Newcastle instead of Blyth, the X14 being extended to Newcastle, the X16 to Kirkhall (now on the 2 instead) and the 52 extending the old Ashington to Freeman service to serve more.
If he makes changes like that it could see some improvements for some areas, with the likes of Venture buses been bolted onto the express network or Washington locals been send further afield offering better links.
No-one and I mean no-one wants to sit on a minibus for 10 minutes to then sit in a bus station for 20 minutes to catch another bus because they just missed their other bus and there's too many routes in the GNE network where it's like that. Peterlee, Washington and Consett in particular.
RE: GNE Recent Appointments - Unber43 - 14 Nov 2022
I am excited to see what NF does, I just hope it just doesn't end with more frequency cuts and perhaps you can replace that lost bus per hour with a connection to a new area.
RE: GNE Recent Appointments - Andreos1 - 14 Nov 2022
(14 Nov 2022, 8:58 pm)L469 YVK wrote To give NF credit, the Northumbria network (although got it slightly wrong in 2012) was stabilised.
Was that really down to him though?
RE: GNE Recent Appointments - Adrian - 14 Nov 2022
(14 Nov 2022, 9:41 am)Ambassador wrote Not sure there's anything too out of the ordinary about a new manager bringing in trusted/fresh faces to support him in the role.
He's not exactly going into a business that is currently overawed by success and strong leadership...
He's (and they are) not exactly coming from one, either!
Arriva UK Bus seem to have been on the market for longer than Newcastle United was... although maybe the Saudis were just waiting for a 21 through Low Fell
RE: GNE Recent Appointments - Unber43 - 14 Nov 2022
(14 Nov 2022, 9:52 pm)Adrian wrote He's (and they are) not exactly coming from one, either!I wonder if Arriva is up for sale with NF history with the company whether GNE may attempt a takeover
Arriva UK Bus seem to have been on the market for longer than Newcastle United was... although maybe the Saudis were just waiting for a 21 through Low Fell
RE: GNE Recent Appointments - Storx - 14 Nov 2022
(14 Nov 2022, 9:51 pm)Andreos1 wrote Was that really down to him though?
He was in charge at the time so whether it was him or someone he put in that place he has to get the credit really. Just like MG needs the 'credit' for the absolute car crash he left GNE in before running away to Lumo. Jumping from a sinking (sunk) ship springs to mind. There's only so long you can blame everything under the sun but yourself.
There's very few positives from GNE in the past 2 year or any of the NE bus operators really to be balanced. Lot's of excuses though and some shocking decisions involving staff; CLS and Jesmond closures and the ongoing Stagecoach Sunderland strikes in particular but that's Brexit, Russia, Covid, Energy Crisis obviously.
RE: GNE Recent Appointments - Ambassador - 15 Nov 2022
(14 Nov 2022, 9:52 pm)Adrian wrote He's (and they are) not exactly coming from one, either!
Arriva UK Bus seem to have been on the market for longer than Newcastle United was... although maybe the Saudis were just waiting for a 21 through Low Fell
In a positive for Nige, the X12 is always on time so he could catch that ? though he might have seen the ex QuayCity Versa on the 21 today and immediately sacked whoever was allocating at Riverside ?p
I do think they are in to prep for a sale but no idea who would take it on.
I would have said franchising but I doubt there’s any money going around for that anymore.
RE: GNE Recent Appointments - Rob44 - 15 Nov 2022
Would lothjian - being owned by ECC be alowed to branch out an by arriva northumbria? I'd move backto Hazlerigg in a flash if that happened
RE: GNE Recent Appointments - Andreos1 - 15 Nov 2022
(14 Nov 2022, 10:18 pm)Storx wrote He was in charge at the time so whether it was him or someone he put in that place he has to get the credit really. Just like MG needs the 'credit' for the absolute car crash he left GNE in before running away to Lumo. Jumping from a sinking (sunk) ship springs to mind. There's only so long you can blame everything under the sun but yourself.
There's very few positives from GNE in the past 2 year or any of the NE bus operators really to be balanced. Lot's of excuses though and some shocking decisions involving staff; CLS and Jesmond closures and the ongoing Stagecoach Sunderland strikes in particular but that's Brexit, Russia, Covid, Energy Crisis obviously.
Depends whether he put the people in to those positions or not.
Either way, if I was in his position, I'd certainly be giving credit to those who came up with the ideas and did the dirty work.
To give MG some kudos, he appeared to do just that with any successes or compliments he received.
Conversely, I'd be (and have done) willing to hold my hands up if suggestions, proposals or processes put to me and signed off by me - didn't work.
Different managerial and leadership styles I suppose.
RE: GNE Recent Appointments - MurdnunoC - 15 Nov 2022
(15 Nov 2022, 11:57 am)Rob44 wrote Would lothjian - being owned by ECC be alowed to branch out an by arriva northumbria? I'd move backto Hazlerigg in a flash if that happened
Aren't Lothjian a Dutch bus operator? Surprised Martijn Gilbert hasn't been approached to become their MD. I suppose when he leaves Lumo, there's a job waiting for him there.
RE: GNE Recent Appointments - RobinHood - 15 Nov 2022
(15 Nov 2022, 12:39 pm)Andreos1 wrote Depends whether he put the people in to those positions or not.
Either way, if I was in his position, I'd certainly be giving credit to those who came up with the ideas and did the dirty work.
The commercial team in place at the time have now largely retried/moved on as far as I am aware, only maybe one or two from that period still remain.
RE: GNE Recent Appointments - Rob44 - 16 Nov 2022
(15 Nov 2022, 5:52 pm)MurdnunoC wrote Aren't Lothjian a Dutch bus operator? Surprised Martijn Gilbert hasn't been approached to become their MD. I suppose when he leaves Lumo, there's a job waiting for him there.
*** must proofread posts**
Lothian