Stagecoach hires corporate comms chief

Transport operator Stagecoach, whose company South West Trains has

had repeatedly negative media coverage has hired its first head of

corporate communications.

The company, which runs trains and buses, hired Robert Ballantyne this

week to handle all areas of the group’s external and internal

communications.

Ballantyne, presently the assistant editor of the Scotsman, will take up

the new position early next year. He will report to the company’s group

chief executive Mike Kinski.

Ballantyne will work closely with the company’s financial and corporate

PR agency, Smithfield Financial.

’This appointment will strengthen the senior management team and give us

the appropriate group structure to support our ambitious growth plans,

both in the UK and internationally,’ said Kinski.