Chris Garnett to leave GNER

Chris Garnett to leave GNER

25 Jul 2006

Christopher Garnett, 60, is to leave GNERat the end of August. He has been CEO of the highly successful franchise for ten years. Bob MacKenzie, CEO of Sea Containers Ltd, GNER’s parent company,will become Executive Chairman supported by the other directors. Garnett says, ‘Now is the right time to step down and hand over to others to lead the next stage in GNER’s development.’ This could be tricky. GNER faces competition from open access operator Grand Central. Currently it is engaged in legal moves to block the new service. Parent company Sea Containers has also been in the news recently concerning its trading position.  Mr MacKenzie admitted, ‘GNER does face a number of challenges, which in the current financial environment need urgent attention.’ Sea Containers’ shares fell 15 cents, to $4.85 in afternoon trading on the New York Stock Exchange. The shares have been trading in a 52-week range between $4.25 and $15.58. Adrian Lyons of the Railway Forum paid tribute to Christopher Garnet. ‘Christopher has set a record for having held a TrainOperating Company Chief Executive post longer than anyone else. In addition he has also been a long-serving member of The Railway Forum Council… His brand of enthusiastic leadership has defined GNER in a unique way and built up a fiercely loyal customer base. We wish him the best of fortune in whatever he plans to do next but know that the standards he has set will long be an influence on the industry.’ 

 

 

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