Stagecoach has taken a further step in achieving its sustainability commitments by announcing the appointment of a new Head of Sustainability. Greg Ritt has joined Stagecoach in the newly created post this week and will be a key lead in driving forward Stagecoach’s sustainability strategy.

Stagecoach, the UK’s largest bus and coach operator, recently launched its new long-term sustainability strategy; Driving Net Zero: Better Places to Live and Work – which sets out plans to decarbonise its business by around 70% by 2035 as well as targeting a zero emissions bus fleet across the UK by that date. The roadmap to becoming a fully carbon neutral business will see investment in new zero-emissions fleets, such as electric buses, and other green technologies over the next 15 years. It follows a 14% reduction in carbon emissions between 2014 and 2019.

Stagecoach is continuing to make major investment in cleaner buses and is in the process of introducing 46 new fully electric buses in key transport networks across Scotland in Aberdeen, Kilmarnock and Perth as part of the Government’s Ultra Low Emission Bus Scheme. Last summer, it launched six new electric buses serving rural communities across the west of Scotland in partnership with SP Energy Networks. Stagecoach has also made one of the biggest single investments in electric vehicles in Europe with its double-decker fleet in Manchester.

The appointment of a new Head of Sustainability is a further step towards reaching the goals set out in the new sustainability strategy.

Greg joins Stagecoach from Rothschild & Co where he was Group Environment Manager leading on global operations environmental management, including the development of strategy, policy, targets, and governance across 50 countries. His experience in sustainability spans over 12 years, working in Australia, Singapore and the UK.

On joining Stagecoach, Greg Ritt said: “Having global sustainability experience with Rothschild & Co and previously Unilever, these roles have provided me with a depth of experience and understanding in this area and I am keen to expand this knowledge to address the social impacts of environment and sustainability.

“I am incredibly passionate about this area and can pinpoint the lightbulb moment when I knew I needed to do more to make positive changes. Whilst travelling in India 20 years ago, I saw how they were burning rubber tyres as a source of heat and as I witnessed the black plumes of smoke go into our atmosphere, I saw our world in a different way and knew I wanted to make a difference.

“I can see how passionate Stagecoach is about sustainability and I am excited to join the group and help make our new sustainability plans a reality.”

Sharon Vye-Parminter, Group Health and Safety Director for Stagecoach, said: “We are delighted to welcome Greg to the team and his extensive knowledge and experience in environment and sustainability will help us reach our aims and objectives as a company.

“Having recently launched our strategy, this is yet another commitment to how serious we are about making positive changes for our people, communities and country and our race to net zero.”