Appointed: 2015 and became Chief Executive in 2018
Key areas of expertise: Transportation/travel, Government contracting, Corporate finance/M&A, Turnaround, Safety, Governance
Skills and experience: Matthew has a deep understanding of FirstGroup, having joined the company as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in December 2015, before his appointment as Chief Executive in November 2018. Matthew has strong strategic and operational expertise, including delivering strategy and driving performance improvement. He has extensive international experience, including significant M&A and corporate finance activity. He was formerly Group Finance Director of Essentra plc, a component manufacturer and distributor, having previously been Director of Corporate Development, where he was responsible for multiple international acquisitions, as well as driving growth and margin improvement in the group’s largest division. His early career was spent at the manufacturing and distribution division of Rank Group plc where he was responsible for managing multinational corporations, introducing new technologies and restructuring legacy businesses. Matthew qualified as a chartered accountant at EY and has recent and relevant financial experience.
Nationality: British