The new appointment comes from the Kelsian Group and will replace outgoing managing director Matt Carney
Australasian bus and coach operator Kinetic has announced the appointment of a well-known industry name to its senior leadership team as the managing director of Australia.
Experienced transport executive Greg Balkin joins Kinetic from the Kelsian Group (formerly SeaLink Travel Group), where he served as Chief Operating Officer and oversaw all aspects of Kelsian’s Australian bus operations and Brisbane’s RiverCity Ferries.
Kinetic says Balkin brings with him experience in the passenger transport industry, holding previous senior roles within the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads as well as at Transit Systems and Transdev.
Kinetic co-CEO Michael Sewards says he’s excited to welcome Balkin on board when he officially commences on September 18.
“Greg joins us with extensive industry experience and a proven track record of success at a strategic and operational level, making him a perfect fit to lead our operations in Australia,” Sewards says.
“Kinetic has come a long way in the Australian market over the past few years, growing from a single SkyBus operation to become one of the largest and most esteemed mass transit bus platforms in the region.
“We look forward to the fresh perspectives and business acumen that Greg will bring to our organisation as we continue to grow our operations in Australia.”
Balkin’s appointment follows the departure of current Australian managing director Matt Carney, who is now joining Kinetic’s operations in the UK as CEO of bus at Go-Ahead.
In the UK, Kinetic is the majority owner of Go-Ahead, including 6,000 buses, six rail franchises and more than 26,000 employees alongside joint venture partner Globalvia.
Sewards says Carney’s support and guidance have been instrumental in propelling Kinetic’s success in the Australian market and that he will continue to drive operational excellence in the UK.
“Matt has been a pivotal figure for Kinetic in recent years and he will add valuable leadership experience to our team in the UK and help Go-Ahead continue realising its global growth and industry leadership ambitions,” Sewards says.
“We’re excited for Matt to share his knowledge and best practices in operational excellence at Go-Ahead while also championing our core sustainability goals, including the accelerated transition to net zero.
“With the appointment of Greg and Matt to key roles overseeing our operations in Australia and the UK respectively, I’m confident Kinetic has the leadership pillars in place to grow our reputation for excellence and make a positive impact in the transport industry through moving people and enhancing communities.”