Bee Network’s Vernon Everitt preferred candidate for Welsh role

Vernon Everitt, a key figure behind bus franchising in Manchester, has been named the preferred candidate to be chair of Transport for Wales.

The Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates, announced Everitt as his preferred candidate.

Vernon Everitt is currently Transport Commissioner and chair of Transport for Greater Manchester. He is also a current Non-Executive Director on the Transport for Wales board.

Mr Everitt has previously been a Senior Executive at TfL with responsibility for improving customer service and driving up journeys and revenue on the public transport network.

This appointment is subject to pre-appointment scrutiny by the Senedd which will take place on 19 June.

Ken Skates said: “I’m pleased today to announce my preferred candidate for Chair of Transport for Wales. Vernon brings a wealth of transport experience from both Manchester and London, as well as already being very familiar with our priorities in Wales.

“I would like to put on record my appreciation for the critical role that the current Chair, Scott Waddington, has played in the significant growth of the organisation since its incorporation in 2018, as well as navigating the unprecedented challenges faced by public transport operators as a result of the pandemic.”