MARTIN DEAN has been appointed managing director – bus development at the Go-Ahead Group. This is a newly-created role reporting directly to group chief executive KEITH LUDEMAN. Dean, who was previously with First, will lead and act as a focus for all bus development activity throughout the group.  Says Ludeman: “Go-Ahead prides itself on the quality and growth of our bus services within the UK. Martin’s appointment will not only strengthen Go-Ahead’s focus on development in this core business area; he will also provide additional resource to our many respected local bus companies.”  Dean has held a wide range of positions with First in its rail and bus businesses, latterly as business development director

Well-known Midlands busman PHIL BATEMAN is the new regional manager for CPT’s West Midlands region. Bateman was previously corporate affairs director at the National Express West Midlands bus business.  Says CPT chief executive SIMON POSNER: “We are delighted to have Phil on board. His unrivalled knowledge of public transport and political issues within the West Midlands will be invaluable to all members, especially at a time when it is becoming increasingly difficult for companies to operate. This appointment reaffirms our commitment to facilitate, implement and promote CPT policy within our regional structure.” Bateman’s career in the transport industry began in 1965 with British Rail.

The Darwen Group has appointed MIKE DUNN (43) as chief financial officer. Dunn has wide experience of financial management, most recently as finance director of Lynx Technology, an IT services company. ANDREW BRIAN, Darwen Group chief executive, says: “Following our AIM float earlier this year, it was essential that we appointed a finance director with solid experience and a clear understanding of corporate governance, due diligence and acquisition activity. This, combined with Mike’s knowledge of the manufacturing and engineering sectors, strengthens our management team considerably, almost one year on from Darwen Group’s first acquisition of East Lancashire Coach Builders.” The Darwen Group’s management team now comprises executive chairman ROY STANLEY, chief executive ANDREW BRIAN, non-executive director JOHN FICKLING, commercial director MARK HOULTON and operations director CHRIS POWELL.

The prompt action of First Manchester inspector DAMIAN OLIVE is thought to have saved the life of a customer who became ill on a bus in Manchester city centre. Olive’s response has seen him being awarded Manchester Superstar status in the company’s employee recognition programme. He will attend First’s National Superstar Awards event later this year. While awaiting the arrival of paramedics Olive administered CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) which revived the man, who had stopped breathing and had no pulse. “The paramedics hooked the customer up to their ECG machine and confirmed there was a possibility of a heart murmur,” Olive says. “They told me that my actions could have brought him back to life.”

EvoBus UK has appointed LEE GIBSON to the newly-created role of Mercedes-Benz minibus sales manager. Reporting to HEINZ MADER, recently-appointed EvoBus UK CEO & managing director, Gibson will be responsible for overseeing the product and sales strategy for minibuses. Gibson was formerly regional sales manager with Dawsonrentals.

VICKY WILLIAMS joins Go South Coast in the newly-created role of sales manager to promote the coach and bus companies within the group which include Wilts & Dorset and Bluestar buses, Bells, Damory, Tourist and Marchwood coaches based in Wiltshire, Dorset and Hampshire. Williams has worked in insurance and banking for the last nine years including Liverpool Victoria and Barclays and more recently was sales manager for a health insurance broker in Bournemouth. ALEX CARTER, managing director of the Go South Coast companies, says that introduction of a dedicated sales professional is part of Go-Ahead’s investment into its coaching and bus subsidiaries: “Since 2003 we have acquired some of the longest established coach operators in the region. We believe that the time is right to re-invest in these well known brand names and increase utilisation.”

LIFT supplier Maywood Equipment Group has appointed DAVID SPIERS as area manager for Scotland. Spiers has had over 25 years experience in the automotive trade. He started in retail tyre service before joining Brown Brothers and then Partco. He then had some time at Snap-on Equipment before joining Maywood .

CHRISTOPHER BARTON has joined fuelling and lubrication equipment supplier Hytek as technical support advisor. and LISA RUDLAND has joined its customer support function.