New MD for Nottingham City Transport

David Astill

Bus operator Nottingham City Transport (NCT) has a new managing director.

David Astill, currently commercial and operations director at NCT, has been appointed MD in anticipation of Mark Fowles’ retirement in April 2021.

Astill boasts 32 years’ managerial experience in the commercial bus sector. He joined NCT in 2007 from FirstGroup, where he had latterly been commercial manager for the Staffordshire, Cheshire & Merseyside region. Prior to that he had held posts with First as an area manager and general manager.

Astill said: “I feel privileged and excited to take on the leadership of NCT at this very challenging time for public transport. I am certain with my strong management team we can work together to take NCT forward to continue to deliver an excellent bus network for Nottingham residents as they have come to rely on and expect.

“I am determined to steer the company back to the successful and well regarded position it held prior to the pandemic.

“I am particularly proud to be the first person to head-up the organisation who was born and grew-up in the city we serve.”

Pre-Covid, NCT carried just under 50 million passengers each year, on a commercial fleet of 300 buses, providing a citywide network of over 50 routes.

NCT chairman, councillor Graham Chapman said: “David Astill will be an excellent new MD. He has wide experience of the bus industry generally, and really detailed knowledge of the company, we believe he has the determination and enthusiasm to ensure NCT continues to be the best company in the UK. In the immediate months post-Covid NCT will need to adapt and I have every confidence that David and his senior management team are more than capable of responding to what will be some serious challenges”

Astill assumes the role at the beginning of the new financial year in April 2021.

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