Arriva appoints managing director for UK Regional Bus

Arriva plc, the transport services organisation, has announcedthe appointment of Mike Cooper to the new position of managingdirector, UK Regional Bus.

He will join Arriva on 16 May 2005 and will be responsible forthe financial and operational performance of the UK Bus regionalbusinesses.

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

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

In 1996, he joined Thomson holidays and for three years wasmanaging director of Portland Direct before joining easyjet in2000.

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

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

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

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

Aged 41, Mr Cooper is married with three children.

Note to editors

Arriva is one of the largest transport services organisations inEurope with operations in Denmark, Germany, Italy, theNetherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.With some 30,000 employees, Arriva provides more than one billionpassenger journeys every year through an extensive range of publictransport services including buses, trains, commuter coaches andwater buses. In the UK, the Group also operates a national vehiclerental business and is engaged in bus and coach distribution.