GMPTE Director General steps down

Date published: 24/10/2006

GMPTE’s Director General, Chris Mulligan, has announced his retirement due to ill health.

Chris has led the passenger transport organisation since 1991. During this time he played a leading role in both local and national transport policy issues over a period of great change, including deregulation of the bus industry in 1986, the Railways Act 1983 and the Transport Act 2000.

Commenting on his decision, Chris said: "I have had a 15 year stint as Director General and much has been achieved. It is disappointing to leave under these circumstances but I am confident that I leave behind me a team well capable of carrying forward the public transport agenda in the county."

Chair of Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority (GMPTA), Councillor Roger Jones, said: "I am very sorry to see Chris go. He has been an excellent ambassador for public transport and I would like to thank him for his dedicated service  and congratulate him on the considerable achievements he has been involved in delivering.

"He has been at the centre of some of the biggest transport projects in the country – including the Manchester Airport rail link and our Metrolink network which was the first UK street-running light rail system."

Clerk to GMPTA, Sir Howard Bernstein, added: "I will miss working with Chris. We worked closely together on several major projects including delivering the public transport-led strategy for spectators at the Commonwealth Games which Manchester hosted in 2002. The strategy has been acknowledged nationally and internationally as a huge success and as an example of first class co-ordination between the public and private sectors."

Chris joined GMPTE in 1977 where he progressed from Management Accountant to Financial Controller in 1985, Director of Finance in 1987, and Director General in 1991.

He has been a past Chairman of the Passenger Transport Executive Group which serves approximately 13 million in the UK. He was also a member of the UITP Policy Committee Board – a recognised international body for public transport.

Chris had been on long-term sick leave since October 2005.

GMPTA has appointed David Leather as Interim Director General.