Our board
Our Board comprises a balanced and diverse mix of executive and non-executive directors with a wide range of experience. This is designed to provide effective leadership through independent thinking and consensual decision-making in delivering the company’s strategy. It is our policy to maintain diversity on the Board in respect of age, social and ethnic backgrounds, as well as a range of perspectives and personal strengths. This is also reflected in our search and appointment process for any new director.
We are committed to the ongoing professional development of Board members and undertaking regular evaluation of the Board’s impact to maintain its continued effectiveness.
Ray O’Toole
Non-executive Chairman
Appointment to the Board: 1 September 2016
External appointments: The British Transport Police Authority (Non Executive Director).
Previous experience: Ray O’Toole served as Chief Operating Officer of National Express Group until May 2010. Ray stood down from the main board of National Express plc in 2010 after ten years as Group Chief Operating Officer and UK Chief Executive. Ray was responsible for the National Express Group’s bus and coach businesses and rail franchises, with operations in Spain, the USA, Canada and the UK. In November 2013 Ray joined Kier Group, Fleet and Passenger Services as Managing Director. In July 2015 he led a management buy-out team with private equity investor, Endless LLP, to create Essential Fleet Services Limited and served as its Chief Executive until February 2017. His considerable commercial experience in the transport sector and particularly in both rail and bus passenger services provides him with an ideal background to contribute to the development of the Group’s broader strategy.
Claire Miles
Chief Executive Officer
Appointment to the Board: 2 October 2023
External appointments: Aston University (Visiting Professor), Biffa (Non Executive Director).
Previous experience: Claire Miles joined Stagecoach as Chief Executive Officer in October 2023, after holding a number of senior roles across a range of business sectors, including Chief Executive of Yell and various Managing Director roles at Centrica such as HomeCare and Hive. Claire was formerly a non-executive director of Capita plc. In addition to her company roles, Claire is a Visiting Professor at Aston University. Claire is also a non-executive director on the Board of Biffa.
Executive responsibilities: Claire is responsible for Group health, safety and environmental matters, overall strategy and management of all the Group’s operations.
Bruce Dingwall
Chief Financial Officer
Appointment to the Board: February 2023
Previous experience: A Chartered Accountant, Bruce Dingwall joined Stagecoach in April 2013 as Group Financial Controller, having previously worked with Ernst & Young LLP. He was appointed Director of Finance in July 2022, with an expanded role including treasury, Group-wide financial reporting, annual report compliance, significant M&A activity, Group-wide management reporting and forecasting, and insurance and claims management. He was appointed to the Board as Chief Financial Officer on 1 February 2023.
Executive responsibilities: Bruce Dingwall is responsible for the Group’s overall financial policy, taxation, treasury, corporate finance, financial reporting, business development and employee benefits. He supports the Chief Executive Officer in the management of the Group’s operations.
Lynne Weedall
Non-Executive Director
Appointment to the Board: 1 August 2020
External appointments: Dr. Martens plc (Non Executive Director), Softcat plc (Non Executive Director).
Previous experience: Lynne Weedall is an experienced director who has worked in a number of major organisations in the retail sector and elsewhere, bringing key expertise in business strategy, organisation design, strategic change management and employee engagement. Up until October 2019, Lynne was a Non-Executive Director and Remuneration Committee Chair of Greene King plc and is a former Non-Executive Director of Treatt plc and of Lovecrafts Group Limited. She is the former HR Director of Selfridges Group, and prior to that Dixons Carphone where she led a major merger integration.
Hamish Mackenzie
Non-Executive Director
Appointment to the Board: 23 May 2022
Previous experience: Mr Mackenzie is Managing Partner and Global Head of DWS Infrastructure. Mr Mackenzie has responsibility for overseeing DWS’s private investment activity in infrastructure debt and equity globally. Hamish was responsible for establishing the European Infrastructure equity business in 2005 as well as directing the investment activity from its inception. This includes the flagship funds Pan European Infrastructure Fund (2007), PEIF II (2015) and PEIF III (2021) together representing in excess of €7 billion. The funds have successfully invested in a wide variety of transportation, energy and utility companies across Europe. Hamish has represented DWS on the boards of Peel Ports, Yorkshire Water, Tank & Rast, Autovia del Camino and SAVE (the operator of Venice and Treviso airports). Prior to joining DWS, Mr Mackenzie was a specialist in the transport and infrastructure sector in Deutsche Bank’s investment banking division having previously worked in a similar role at HSBC. He qualified as a chartered accountant with Deloitte and is an honours graduate (Geography) of Bristol University. Mr Mackenzie is CEO and SMCF for DWS Alternatives Global Ltd the FCA and SEC regulated entity that is the manager of inter alia the PEIF funds.
Scott Auty
Non-Executive Director
Appointment to the Board: 23 May 2022
Previous experience: Mr Auty is a London based Partner in DWS’s infrastructure investment business, Europe, and is responsible for the origination and execution of infrastructure investment opportunities as well as the ongoing management of the acquired assets. He is a member of the investment committee for the three European infrastructure funds managed by DWS. Prior to joining DWS’s infrastructure business in 2005, Mr Auty started his career at N M Rothschild & Sons’ investment banking division where he was a specialist in the utilities and natural resources sectors. He holds a BA Honours degree in Economics from the University of Exeter.
Miguel Horta e Costa
Non-Executive Director
Appointment to the Board: 23 May 2022
Previous experience: Mr Horta e Costa is a Senior Principal of DWS Infrastructure and has ample experience analysing infrastructure investment opportunities, executing transactions and the ongoing management of portfolio companies. He joined DWS Infrastructure in December 2011 after four years in the London Project Finance team of Espirito Santo Investment Bank, where he was responsible for the origination and structuring of projects in the EMEA region with a particular focus on the PFI / PPP transports sector. He holds an MS in Management from Universidade Nova de Lisboa in Portugal. Mr. Horta e Costa is also a Non-Executive Director of Hansea NV and its parent Inframobility NV the leading private bus operator in Belgium.
Florian Hubel
Non-Executive Director
Appointment to the Board: 23 May 2022
Previous experience: Mr Hubel is an Investment Manager of DWS Infrastructure and has ample experience analysing infrastructure investment opportunities, executing transactions and the ongoing management of portfolio companies. Prior to joining DWS Infrastructure, Mr Hubel worked at OMERS Infrastructure, an infrastructure investor, and J.P.Morgan’s investment banking division where he was a specialist in the Natural Resources sector, advising clients on mergers, acquisitions and corporate finance matters. He started his career at The Boston Consulting Group in management consulting. Mr Hubel holds an MBA from INSEAD and an MS Honours degree in Management from the Vienna University of Economics and Business. Mr. Hubel is also a supervisory committee member of BPE Holdings SAS, a European energy services business, and a non-executive director of the Spanish bioethanol producer Vertex Bioenergy SL.
Graeme Charnock
Non-Executive Director
Appointment to the Board: 21 April 2023
Previous experience: Mr Charnock is a Chartered Accountant who qualified with KPMG. He is a former CFO/Finance Director with a background in the challenging environment of project management in the ports, rail, infrastructure, energy and power and process industries. Graeme has significant experience of working with and for large private companies and listed PLCs on strategic, M&A, reporting and governance matters having developed strong City/adviser relationships. Following his retirement from Peel Ports Group Limited in April 2022, he is now working with organisations in a Trustee/Non-Executive capacity.
