National Express moves HQ to Brum

Jul 26 2007 By Jon Griffin, Birmingham Mail

GLOBAL transport group National Express today announced it is switching its headquarters from London to Birmingham in a major coup for the West Midlands.

The £2.5 billion turnover group is to leave its Bond Street headquarters in the heart of the West End to move to a new base in Birmingham, it was revealed today.

The switch will bring one of the biggest transport groups in Europe - employing 42,000 people - to Brum in a move hailed as a "massive tonic" for the Midlands.

The move to Birmingham follows a major review of the international transport group which will bring together the transport giant's road, rail and bus arms.

The integration of the group will produce annual cost savings of £11 million but looks certain to bring new jobs to Birmingham from the capital.

Announcing half-year group operating profits up by 60 per cent to £77 million, National Express said: "The new UK operation will be headquartered in Birmingham under the leadership of Ray O'Toole who will continue as a main board director with the priority of leading and completing the integration."

Paul Tilsley, deputy leader of Birmingham City Council, said today: "Travel West Midlands is at the heart of the National Express transport operations so it is particularly appropriate that the whole operation will be based in Birmingham."

A source said: "This is a big, global business which is getting out of London and switching its headquarters to Birmingham. It's great news for the city."