Colin Robertson becomes NFI Vice Chair. Paul Davies appointed at ADL’s helm

Alexander Dennis Limited announces that CEO Colin Robertson is poised to take the position of Vice Chair in NFI’s Board of Directors. The change will be effective from 30th September 2020. Robertson’ll be succeeded by Paul Davies, today Regional Manager Director based in Hong Kong, as ADL’s President & Managing Director.

Colin Robertson, 13 years at the helm of ADL

Colin Robertson has been Chief Executive of ADL for 13 years. During his tenure, «Colin transformed ADL into the UK bus market leader and global leader for double deck buses through a relentless focus on the customer and combining operational excellence, innovative products and best-in-class aftermarket support. Under his leadership, which continued after NFI’s acquisition of ADL in May 2019, ADL has been consistently profitable with annual turnover increasing nearly fourfold to £631m», ADL highlights.

As part of NFI’s acquisition of ADL in May 2019, Colin Robertson agreed to remain in his current role until May 2020, which has now been extended to 30 September 2020, ADL points out. This extension will allow for a period of transition to provide a seamless handover to Paul Davies and to ensure business continuity when Paul returns to his native Scotland in July 2020.

ADL’s recent history: clean buses and growth in Europe

During Colin Robertson’s tenure, ADL has been focusing on the development of a wide range of clean bus technologies, beginning with the breakthrough of hybrid technology in 2008 and followed by efficiency enhancements as well as biogas, battery electric and hydrogen vehicles.

Over recent years, Europe has become the latest growth area for ADL. Leveraging global experience as the world’s leading supplier of double deck buses, initial orders from Switzerland have been followed by Berlin’s decision to order its new fleet of double deck buses from ADL.

Steve Rose succeedes to Paul Davies in Hong Kong

Paul Davies joined Alexander Dennis in 1997 and has over 25 years of automotive and rail industry experience. As Regional Managing Director based in Hong Kong, he led the company’s long-term profitable growth in the Asia Pacific region for the past 20 years.

Paul Davies’ role as ADL’s Managing Director for the Asia Pacific region will pass to Steve Rose, who joins Alexander Dennis from Cummins where he most recently had been Regional Operations Director, Taiwan & Mongolia, and General Manager, Hong Kong. Steve has over 40 years of experience in manufacturing, operations and aftermarket support.

Paul Davies ready to become ADL’s President & Managing Director

Colin Robertson stated, “Leading ADL has been exciting and extremely rewarding. I am fiercely proud of what has been achieved through the hard work of the entire team and the collaborative partnerships we’ve developed with our suppliers and customers. I know the company will be in fantastic hands. Paul has been a key member of the executive team and lives and breathes ADL’s mission and values. With his thorough understanding of our business and the wider industry, I have every confidence that Paul will bring further success to ADL.”

Paul Davies commented, “I’ve been very fortunate to have worked for Colin for the past 13 years and I am deeply honoured to have been selected to take on the challenge of continuing the amazing journey that we’ve experienced under his leadership. I look forward to continue working with the NFI and ADL teams and our partners to provide world-class transport solutions that deliver for our customers.”

NFI Chair, The Honourable Brian Tobin, O.C. P.C. explained, “The NFI Board is thrilled that Colin Robertson has agreed to join our Board as Vice Chair, and I look forward to working with him in assisting and overseeing NFI Group’s pursuit of added competitiveness and further international growth.”

“I have known Colin for nearly a decade and constantly sought a way to bring our two companies together and in the process gained a tremendous amount of respect for his business expertise and strategic vision,” said Paul Soubry, the President and Chief Executive Officer of NFI. “Colin’s vast manufacturing background, experience and deep knowledge of the global bus and coach markets will continue to serve NFI well,” Soubry explained further, “I’m also very excited to work with Paul who has been mentored by Colin for several years as they grew ADL’s presence to be a market leader in the Asia Pacific Region. Paul is exactly the right kind of leader to drive the next chapter of ADL as part of NFI.”