FirstGroup plc, the leading transport operator in the UK and North America, has appointed Jim Harbidge as Group Head of Environment. 
Jim joins FirstGroup with a background in the rail sector, having worked for Virgin and Carillion plc. He brings with him valuable experience of delivering environmental improvements within highly commercial organisations, aligning environmental outcomes to business outcomes.
As a major transport operator, FirstGroup has a central role in providing communities with sustainable, low carbon transport options that reduce the sector’s contribution to climate change. At the same time the Group recognises the environmental impacts of its business activities and works to reduce these through effective environmental management.
As lead environmental practitioner for the Group, Jim will work with management teams and specialists in FirstGroup’s UK and North American businesses to provide expert guidance, support and challenge over the company’s environmental plans and performance.
Jim will lead the formulation of FirstGroup’s new long term environmental strategy and targets, with a keen focus on driving business efficiency, supporting business development efforts and increasing the Group’s risk resilience.
Commenting on his appointment, Kate Broome, Group Director of Corporate Responsibility, said:
"FirstGroup already has an enviable reputation for innovation in the environmental field, whether achieving standards like ISO 50001 across our rail businesses, or triple certification to the Carbon Trust Standard in our UK divisions, or by being at the forefront of innovation in new vehicle technology across the UK and North America. Jim’s expertise and strong direction will help us develop this reputation further and meet our ambition of providing truly low carbon solutions for an increasingly congested world.”
Jim also commented:
“Sustainable transport is at the heart of the challenge of limiting the impact of climate change while also underpinning competitive economies and strong communities. I look forward to helping FirstGroup lead in responding to this challenge while keeping people moving and communities prospering in the UK and North America.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
FirstGroup plc is the leading transport operator in the UK and North America and our services help to create strong, vibrant and sustainable local economies. During the last year around 2.4 billion people relied on us to get to work, to education, to visit family and friends and much more and, each day, every one of our 110,000 employees works hard to deliver vitally important services for our passengers.
Our vision is to provide solutions for an increasingly congested world… keeping people moving and communities prospering.
For more information about FirstGroup and our divisions please visit www.firstgroupplc.com