First appoints Rochdale General Manager in Bee Network preparation

First Bus has promoted Paul Townley to the newly created role of General Manager of its Rochdale business.

The appointment comes as the bus operator continues preparations to begin running services in Greater Manchester’s franchised Bee Network from March next year.

Paul takes up his new position from the beginning of November and will report to Zoe Hands, Managing Director of First Bus Manchester, Midlands and South Yorkshire. He will lead a management team at the Rochdale depot and be responsible for overseeing all aspects of its operations, engineering, commercial and support functions. This is in addition to managing regular engagement with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and the delivery of franchise commitments.

“First Bus is getting ready to make its mark in the Bee Network and I’m looking forward to helping build our team as we prepare to deliver excellent bus services in Rochdale and the wider community” – Paul Townley

Paul said: “This is an exciting time to be involved from the start a fresh challenge as the way bus services operate in Greater Manchester changes.

“First Bus is getting ready to make its mark in the Bee Network and I’m looking forward to helping build our team as we prepare to deliver excellent bus services in Rochdale and the wider community.”

Paul joined First Bus in 2010 and has held various roles in its Greater Manchester operations before moving into the commercial team for the expanded Manchester, Midlands and South Yorkshire business unit.

First Bus together with TfGM has already placed an order for 17 Mellor Strata Plus single-decker buses for its Rochdale operations.