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Arriva plc, the transport services organisation, has announced the appointment of Mike Cooper to the new position of managing director, UK Regional Bus.

He will join Arriva on 16 May 2005 and will be responsible for the financial and operational performance of the UK Bus regional businesses.

Mr Cooper previously held the position of commercial director at easyjet. During his five years at easyjet, he played a key role in the development of the business and brings a wealth of experience in managing and expanding a customer-focused business.

After graduating from Newcastle University , Mr Cooper held various management positions in ICI Dulux, whilst gaining an MBA from Cranfield School of Management.

In 1996, he joined Thomson holidays and for three years was managing director of Portland Direct before joining easyjet in 2000.

He will report to Arriva main Board director David Martin, who is group managing director – operations.

Commenting on Mr Cooper's appointment, David Martin said:

I am delighted that Mike is joining the Group. This is a new and important strategic role and his valuable experience will enable him to make a major contribution to the development of our UK Regional Bus business.

Arriva is one of the UK 's largest bus operators with over 6,000 buses. Outside London, Arriva's local bus services operate in major urban areas including Liverpool, Leeds, Leicester, Glasgow and Newcastle . There is a strong presence in the Midlands and Home Counties with a mix of interurban trunk routes and market town urban networks. Arriva buses also provide important links in rural areas like North Wales .

Aged 41, Mr Cooper is married with three children.

Note to editors

Arriva is one of the largest transport services organisations in Europe with operations in Denmark , Germany , Italy , the Netherlands , Portugal , Spain , Sweden and the United Kingdom . With some 30,000 employees, Arriva provides more than one billion passenger journeys every year through an extensive range of public transport services including buses, trains, commuter coaches and water buses. In the UK , the Group also operates a national vehicle rental business and is engaged in bus and coach distribution.