Press releases

Arriva plc, the leading European transport services group, has appointed Simon Craven as its new Director of Communications. Most recently Simon has been Director of Strategic Communications for BT plc, for which he has undertaken a number of senior roles since 1998. He will report to Steve Clayton, Group Managing Director of Corporate Affairs, and will take up his appointment on 3 January 2006.

Commenting today Mr Clayton said:

This is an important appointment for Arriva plc as we continue our proven strategy for developing our business in the UK and the mainland European markets.

I am delighted that Simon is joining us. His wealth of experience in a number of different sectors will bring a new and valuable perspective to this key role in our business.

Simon Craven said:

I am very pleased to be joining a company which plays a vital part in the lives of millions of people across Europe . I am keenly looking forward to helping Arriva develop its reputation and its business still further.

Biographical notes

Simon Craven entered public relations in 1987 having begun his career as a national magazine journalist during the early 1980s. In-house positions in financial services with Britannia Building Society and Birmingham Midshires Building Society, opened the door to a spell of consultancy focusing on issues management in the gas and supermarket industries. In 1997 he joined the technology sector with Cambridge-based telecoms company Ionica. He joined BT in 1998 and moved up through several senior positions. In 2001 Simon was selected as a member of the small senior management team overseeing BT's restructuring programme, and subsequently became Director, Strategic Communications for the group.

Notes for editors

• Arriva is one of the largest private sector providers of passenger transport in mainland Europe . Employing more than 30,000 people and providing more than one billion passenger journeys every year.
• Arriva provides transport services including buses, trains, commuter coaches and waterbuses in eight European countries - Denmark , Italy , Germany , the Netherlands , Portugal , Spain , Sweden and the UK .
• Arriva is the largest private bus operator in Italy , Denmark and the Netherlands and is London 's largest operator. Arriva was the first private company to be awarded rail contracts in Denmark .
• In the last five years, the turnover of Arriva's mainland European operations has increased by more than 250 per cent to £514.8 million (€757.9 million).
• Arriva was the first UK transport company to become a signatory of the European Road Safety Charter. http://europa.eu.int/comm/transport/roadsafety/charter.htm.