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+--- Thread: Martijn Gilbert leaves FirstGroup (/showthread.php?tid=4652)
Martijn Gilbert leaves FirstGroup - Ambassador - 12 Jun 2025
Martijn has departed First Group with immediate effect
https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/boss-company-owns-strike-hit-201445653.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAABxmq3jsk3kAKkmSciL9q8QxlfIpTIcMnLqOInEJLY423kXXYr2dXtASn55bFh_S_OPqqFiCC3_zV3SC-5vWw0rAXZr6rjwGPV_cruuNWDb61qcXfUjnKXr2uq9MCrQ1toQ6lDvhnRhS-m_gmIuIrIv33Z0VseAPeTrtmXCyxubj
No doubt he’ll fall upwards into another role
RE: Martijn Gilbert leaving Go North East - V514DFT - 12 Jun 2025
As long as he doesnt rock back up at GNE
RE: Martijn Gilbert leaving Go North East - stagecoachbusdepot - 12 Jun 2025
(12 Jun 2025, 9:13 pm)Ambassador wrote Martijn has departed First Group with immediate effect
https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/boss-company-owns-strike-hit-201445653.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAABxmq3jsk3kAKkmSciL9q8QxlfIpTIcMnLqOInEJLY423kXXYr2dXtASn55bFh_S_OPqqFiCC3_zV3SC-5vWw0rAXZr6rjwGPV_cruuNWDb61qcXfUjnKXr2uq9MCrQ1toQ6lDvhnRhS-m_gmIuIrIv33Z0VseAPeTrtmXCyxubj
No doubt he’ll fall upwards into another role
Bit of a pattern emerging here - alienate workforce to the point of protracted strikes then run for the hills.
RE: Martijn Gilbert leaving Go North East - L469 YVK - 13 Jun 2025
(12 Jun 2025, 9:25 pm)V514DFT wrote As long as he doesnt rock back up at GNEIf COVID didn't hit, it could've been a different story.
RE: Martijn Gilbert leaving Go North East - Adrian - 13 Jun 2025
(13 Jun 2025, 10:38 am)L469 YVK wrote If COVID didn't hit, it could've been a different story.
I agree, I think he was dealt an extremely unfortunate hand at GNE. Even despite that, there were attempts to try new things and develop services, rather than axing everything in sight like this current mob.
RE: Martijn Gilbert leaving Go North East - L469 YVK - 13 Jun 2025
(13 Jun 2025, 6:34 pm)Adrian wrote I agree, I think he was dealt an extremely unfortunate hand at GNE. Even despite that, there were attempts to try new things and develop services, rather than axing everything in sight like this current mob.
I think the main problem is that GAG weren't patient enough to see things out and back to normal.
Whereas Arriva Northumbria and Durham County had a lot of 'inbetween' places to keep them going and strong flows and Stagecoach with their route demographics / areas with low car ownership, a lot of GNE's network relied on MetroCentre and Newcastle City Centre. Both of which took time to get back to normal.
RE: Martijn Gilbert leaving Go North East - Andreos1 - 13 Jun 2025
(13 Jun 2025, 10:38 am)L469 YVK wrote If COVID didn't hit, it could've been a different story.
I'm not too sure.
Bringing a model from elsewhere, dropping it in to the NE and relying on the copy and paste generator was never guaranteed to get results.
There was some expansion to routes, but I never saw anything new or anything exciting or anything different to the vehicle titivations.
Where were the new and innovative links to open up new markets?
The route network now, is pretty much the same as it was before he arrived.
All fur coat and no knickers.
RE: Northstar - Superman - 04 Jul 2025
(04 Jul 2025, 12:55 pm)MurdnunoC wrote I guess some posts must be missing because I don't see loads of chit-chat about the route number on here.
Hold-on. I'll refresh the page.
Meh. Still nowt.
Exactly... maybe the chit-chat should be WHY did MG get the boot from Lumo, nevermind his initials.
RE: Northstar - citaro5284 - 04 Jul 2025
(04 Jul 2025, 5:31 pm)Superman wrote Exactly... maybe the chit-chat should be WHY did MG get the boot from Lumo, nevermind his initials.
Did he get the boot?, I was of the understanding he put his notice in and then was put on gardening leave by First
RE: Northstar - DaveFromUpNorth - 04 Jul 2025
(04 Jul 2025, 5:31 pm)Superman wrote Exactly... maybe the chit-chat should be WHY did MG get the boot from Lumo, nevermind his initials.
Howay leave the bloke alone.. instead of speculation eh...
Have you ever thought he may of wanted a change of scenery
He has done an awful in changing the brand of Lumo and Hull trains and marketing but he is restricted going forward it is not like a bus route where you can buy a new bus and create a bus route - your hands are tied running a railway.
I hope him all the best for his next venture
In the mean time Wonder if 510CLT is running the MG1 service?
RE: Martijn Gilbert leaves FirstGroup - citaro5284 - 24 Jul 2025
New MD of Arriva UK Bus
https://news.arriva.co.uk/news/arriva-group-appoints-new-managing-director-for-uk-bus
RE: Martijn Gilbert leaves FirstGroup - Ambassador - 24 Jul 2025
Interesting his gaff in Low Fell is up for sale too
RE: Martijn Gilbert leaves FirstGroup - L469 YVK - 24 Jul 2025
(24 Jul 2025, 10:50 am)citaro5284 wrote New MD of Arriva UK Bus
https://news.arriva.co.uk/news/arriva-group-appoints-new-managing-director-for-uk-bus
Blyth berries
Ashington apricots
Newcastle Northrider
MaXLines
#arrivabetterthanever
Ex MD - Retro Nero - 24 Jul 2025
Mr Gilbert has been announced as the new MD of Arriva bus UK
RE: Ex MD - logidoodah - 24 Jul 2025
His CV keeps getting bigger and bigger...
RE: Ex MD - V514DFT - 25 Jul 2025
Bet he tries to re introduce services in North Tyneside
RE: Ex MD - Superman - 25 Jul 2025
(25 Jul 2025, 12:36 am)V514DFT wrote Bet he tries to re introduce services in North Tyneside
He's MD of Arriva UK Bus, the North East is just one small area of his role now.
I very much doubt he will be making local level commercial decisions.
That kind of micromanagement is simply not going to happen.
RE: Ex MD - Retro Nero - 25 Jul 2025
(25 Jul 2025, 12:36 am)V514DFT wrote Bet he tries to re introduce services in North Tyneside
Branded and Private Plates.
RE: Ex MD - L469 YVK - 25 Jul 2025
If Arriva were to attack any GNE operations using knowledge, it would be County Durham.
GNE have don't have a stronghold outside of East Durham, Derwentside or Chester Le Street.
Something against the X10 & X21 maybe if GNE don't pull their socks up? Arriva have depots in Belmont and Stockton which could easily provide suitable bases for competition on both routes.
RE: Ex MD - PH - BQA - 25 Jul 2025
(25 Jul 2025, 2:08 pm)L469 YVK wrote If Arriva were to attack any GNE operations using knowledge, it would be County Durham.
GNE have don't have a stronghold outside of East Durham, Derwentside or Chester Le Street.
Something against the X10 & X21 maybe if GNE don't pull their socks up? Arriva have depots in Belmont and Stockton which could easily provide suitable bases for competition on both routes.
Realistically though, he's MD of UK Bus. Bar maybe having the ambition to grow each of the local operating companies, I doubt he'll have a wall chart in his office dedicated to ending GNE.
It would probably need quite a shift in approach from local management to even consider it, and given the ageing fleet, would need some hefty investment (particularly for an X10 competitor in your example).