FirstGroup FD hops off the bus

14th Sep 2011 08:30

Jeff Carr, finance director at bus and train firm FirstGroup, is going Dutch, heading off to be chief financial officer at Netherlands-based retailer Royal Ahold.Carr will be on his bike on 11 November, at which point Nick Chevis, who has held a number of senior finance posts at FirstGroup, will take over as acting finance director until a permanent appointment is made.Meanwhile, the group announced that Vernon Barker has been appointed as managing director of the group's UK Rail division. Barker has been the managing director of First TransPennine Express (FTPE) since the group won the franchise for the region in 2004."Under his leadership FTPE has delivered significant improvements in performance, punctuality and customer satisfaction and most recently the franchise was successfully extended for a further three years. He has a proven track record in railway management and a strong focus on customer service," said Tim O'Toole, FirstGroup's chief executive.O'Toole also paid tribute to Carr's "significant contribution" to FirstGroup over the past two years and wished him well in his new role. --jh