GMPTE Chief Executive to stay on

David Leather

The leadership of GMPTE has been confirmed on a more permanent basis, with the current Interim Chief Executive staying in place for at least two more years.

Councillor Keith Whitmore, Chair of Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority (GMITA) made the announcement at today’s meeting of the Policy & Resources Committee.

Councillor Whitmore said: “I am delighted to be able to announce that David Leather has agreed to continue in his role as Chief Executive of GMPTE for at least the next two years.

“I know that members of the Authority very much value the contribution which David has made to the success of GMPTE.

“I and my colleagues look forward to continuing to work with him to deliver much needed and long awaited improvements to Greater Manchester's transport system.

“Many challenges lie ahead but, with David's leadership of GMPTE together we have made an excellent start and we can now look forward to building on this to ensure that transport is at the forefront of the city regional agenda in the challenging times ahead.”

David Leather, who is a partner at Ernst & Young LLP, joined GMPTE as Interim Chief Executive in 2006 from his post as Finance Director of the Olympic Delivery Authority, where he was on secondment for a year.

Prior to that, he was the Finance Director of Manchester Airport and previously the Deputy Chief Executive and Finance Director of Manchester 2002, the Commonwealth Games organisation.

He said: “These are very exciting times to be involved with public transport, with the expansion of Metrolink underway, the Greater Manchester Transport Fund being developed and real progress being made on the Manchester Hub issue.

“I look forward to being able to play an active part in bringing all of these schemes to fruition and working closely with the Authority to make public transport the preferred choice in Greater Manchester.”