A new managing director has been appointed to run a Sussex bus business after the previous boss Ed Wills moved back to Bournemouth to take charge of the bus company there.
Transport business Go-Ahead said that Matt Ashton, 40, would become managing director (MD) of Brighton and Hove Buses and Metrobus from the summer. Metrobus is based in Crawley.
Go-Ahead, which also runs the main train companies serving Brighton and Hove, said that Mr Ashton would take over from interim MD Rupert Cox.
Mr Cox, 46, is expected to continue in his permanent role as commercial director of Go-Ahead’s bus division, having held the fort locally since the start of January.
Mr Ashton comes to Brighton and Hove Buses having been operations director at Go North West where, Go-Ahead said, “he was integral in the company winning Bus Operator of the Year 2025.”
He joined the company from rival bus operator Arriva in 2023 and, before switching to the top bus job in Brighton and Hove, he served as interim MD of East Yorkshire Buses, also part of Go-Ahead.
The company said that, at the East Yorkshire division, Mr Ashton had provided “strong leadership at a time of transition while maintaining a clear focus on reliability and operational performance”.
His move to Brighton and Hove is regarded as a promotion as he takes charge of one of the most profitable parts of Go-Ahead’s bus business.
His predecessor, Mr Wills, 45, took over from Martin Harris as MD of Brighton and Hove Buses when Mr Harris, 68, retired in 2021 after eight years at the helm.
Mr Wills moved to Brighton and Hove from Bournemouth and returned to Go-Ahead South at the start of January.
Before he moved back along the coast, he said: “It has been a privilege to lead Brighton and Hove Buses, Metrobus and Spirit of Sussex.
“Our success has always been rooted in the communities we serve and I’m proud of the partnerships we’ve built and the improvements we’ve delivered together.
“I am most proud of the teams I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside – from our drivers to our engineers and office colleagues.
“I know the company will continue to thrive under new leadership.”
Go-Ahead’s regional bus managing director Martin Dean said: “Strong operational leadership is the cornerstone of delivering high-quality services for the customers and communities we serve and these are two excellent appointments for Go-Ahead.
“Matt Ashton has been an outstanding leader at East Yorkshire and he will do a brilliant job in his new role.
“Matt Kitchin brings over 20 years of experience in the bus industry and a deep understanding of our business from his previous time with Go-Ahead.
“I would also like to thank Rupert Cox for his exceptional work in supporting the team at Brighton and Hove and Metrobus as interim managing director.”
