The Director General of Nexus, Bernard Garner, is to retire.
Mr Garner has led Nexus since 2006, overseeing record £389m investment in the Tyne and Wear Metro, the roll-out of smart ticketing and the Bus Strategy Delivery Project.
The process of seeking a new Managing Director for Transport Operations is now underway and is being led by the North East Combined Authority (neca).
This key new role incorporates the responsibilities carried out by the Director General of Nexus, involves leading the passenger transport executive and also integrating it further into the delivery of transport policy across the region overseen by neca.
Mr Garner said: “It has been my enormous privilege to have worked at Nexus for almost three decades, and to have led the organisation for the last eight years in the delivery of important local services.
“I have enjoyed the close and productive relationship shared with colleagues and friends across our community, local authority partners and of course members of the Passenger Transport Authority, Integrated Transport Authority and most recently North East Combined Authority.
“I am particularly proud to have led an organisation that has strived to provide effective and high quality local transport for everyone in our community, no matter what their needs, through access improvements at Metro stations, encouraging the introduction of low-floor buses, and concessions including Taxicard and Companion Card for disabled people.
“We have completed the transition of Nexus into the Combined Authority structure, and the organisation is in a strong position to take forward the important workstreams to which it is committed: Delivering the Bus Strategy, Metro: all change modernisation and the continued roll-out of smart travel.”
Cllr Nick Forbes, Leader of Newcastle City Council and lead member for Transport on the Combined Authority said: "Bernard has led Nexus through a substantial period of change and I'd like to put on record my thanks for his dedication to the cause of public transport in the North East. He understands the need to put the travelling public first and he can be proud of his record, one notable success being making public transport accessible for people with disabilities.”
The North East Combined Authority will appoint the new Managing Director (Transport Operations), replacing the former Tyne and Wear Integrated Transport Authority, for whom Nexus Director Generals have previously worked. Mr Garner is expected to leave his post by the end of the year as this new post is appointed.
The new post will be responsible for the leadership of transport operations in the Combined Authority area, the management of a major change agenda and the strategic development of the transport network.
This includes leading Nexus, a public body with a turnover of more than £200 million a year employing 600 staff in the delivery of local transport services.