Keolis North America welcomes new CEO of Keolis U.S. Bus Operations
Keolis has selected Aline Frantzen as the next chief executive officer of U.S. bus operations, who brings two decades of experience in the transportation industry.
Frantzen will be responsible for managing all Keolis bus operations in the United States and play a key role in the company’s efforts to expand and enhance its services throughout the country.
Frantzen joins Keolis in the U.S. from Keolis’ flagship operation in the UK, where she served as managing director of the Manchester Metrolink system. Manchester is now the UK’s second largest urban area. During her time in Manchester, she focused on transforming the culture of the organization and putting the customer at the heart of all decisions. Ridership has grown to 45 million passengers annually, showcasing how an open and transparent culture, supported by positive behaviors informed by strong data analytics and continuous improvements, can lead to optimal performance and enhanced passenger experience.
“Bus transit in the U.S. is at an inflection point. We see disruption and new players taking riders and resources away from our public transit institutions, and there’s also a pressure to provide more innovative solutions, which must be equitable and sustainable,” said Keolis in North America President and CEO Clement Michel. “In all, the market is evolving – Aline’s diverse experience in global operations management as well as financial, business development and commercial roles makes her a great fit to oversee Keolis in North America’s expanding U.S. bus operations in this time of evolution. I am confident that her success in previous roles and passion for customer service and innovative solutions will serve our ambition to be the best partner to public transport authorities.”
Frantzen spent the first decade of her career in public transport at Yarra Trams in Melbourne, Australia, the largest tram network in the world which is operated by Keolis. There she led the development of an employee-centered corporate culture for the benefit of passengers, including the introduction of innovative operational planning tools. Additionally, she was accountable for nine tram depots, 2000 employees, the maintenance of 500 trams and the delivery of 35,500 tram services each week.
“I am thrilled with this new opportunity to work within the Keolis family,” Frantzen said. “This is an exciting time to join Keolis in North America, and I look forward to identifying the key challenges facing public transportation authorities across the country and partner to find the most impactful solutions.”
Frantzen will take up her new position on Oct. 14, 2019. The transition will be done gradually with Steve Shaw, who will remain at Keolis until the end of 2019.