Go-Ahead S’pore’s MD steps down 2 months after launch here
Nigel Wood. TODAY file photo
SINGAPORE — Go-Ahead Singapore’s managing director Nigel Wood has stepped down and returned to Go-Ahead London, just two months after the United Kingdom-based bus operator got off to a bumpy start in launching its maiden operations here.
In response to TODAY’s queries, a spokesperson for the operator yesterday attributed Mr Wood’s departure on Nov 4 to “personal reasons”.
Speaking to TODAY over the phone on Monday (Nov 28), Mr Wood, who is now a general manager at Go-Ahead London, said: “It was (for) personal reasons … and they were kind enough to release me to come back (to London).”
Asked if he was sad about leaving so soon after operations began, he said: “Absolutely. I love Singapore. I thought it was great and, who knows, one day, once I sort some issues out, (I) might come back. We’ll see.”
Meanwhile, Mr David Cutts, Go-Ahead Singapore’s deputy chairman, is at the helm, and he is supported by a team of directors, said the spokesperson.
“An announcement will be made in due course regarding the managing director’s role,” she added.
London’s largest bus operator, Go-Ahead had last year bagged the second contract under the Singapore Government’s bus-contracting model to run 25 bus services in areas including Changi, Pasir Ris and Punggol.
But it hit a roadbump just a little over a fortnight into operations in September, when the operator announced it was taking on bus drivers from SBS Transit and SMRT on short-term contracts after some of its own drivers resigned. The SBS Transit bus drivers were assigned to drive two bus services, Nos 358 and 359.
Their abrupt departures were blamed on difficulties adjusting to Go-Ahead Singapore’s “interlining” model, which requires bus drivers to ply a number of different routes during the week, instead of a single route.
Earlier this month, TODAY had reported that the operator had stemmed its employee attrition, with fewer bus drivers leaving in October compared with September. Its arrangements with SMRT ceased on Nov 21, when it also resumed operating Service No 359. The operator had announced previously that its arrangements with SBS Transit to run Service No 358 would continue until early January, in light of the festive season and to “better optimise” its pool of bus captains.
In mid-October, it had also resumed running its own bus service for employees at the Loyang Bus Depot, after it sought help from operator Tower Transit to provide the service.
The Go-Ahead Singapore spokesperson said Mr Wood, who began his career in the industry as a bus driver in London, had “laid the foundation of the business in Loyang and made a positive contribution throughout his tenure”.
Sharing an update on its bus drivers, the spokesperson said recruitment was ongoing and the firm was “making good progress”.
“The company is also operating a very high volume and standard of mileage,” she added.
