Leadership

David joined Arriva as Executive Chair of the Board of Directors and of the Arriva Executive Committee in October 2024, following five years as the Chair of the board of FirstGroup plc where he successfully initiated significant strategic change leading to the sale of North American assets and the establishment of a solid foundation, whilst delivering significant shareholder value. David is the former Chief Executive of Arriva, which he joined in 1998 as Board member responsible for international development before taking over the leadership of the company in 2006. During his tenure, Arriva was transformed into a multi-national transport services group through a number of key strategic mergers and acquisitions. In September 2010, Arriva was purchased by Deutsche Bahn, one of the world’s leading passenger transport and logistics companies.

David remained as Chief Executive throughout this period, before stepping down in January 2016. He remained on the Arriva Board advising on a range of issues until May 2017. He was formerly a Non-Executive Director at Biffa plc and at Ladbrokes plc and previously held roles at British Bus plc, where he was responsible for development of strategy and M&A, at shipping company Holyhead Group and at business services group Initial Services PLC.

David is a chartered management accountant, member of the advisory board at Nottingham Business School and member of the steering committee at Nottingham Trent University.

Gianfranco joined Arriva Group in October 2025 as CEO and Executive Committee member following almost 11 years at Kuehne+Nagel, the global logistics company. He held the role of Executive Vice President for Contract Logistics and he was also a Board member, leading a CHF 5 billion business with a workforce of around 53,000 across 45 countries.

Gianfranco has an exceptional track record in growing and developing complex, high value operational businesses through periods of growth, innovation and change. Prior to Kuehne+Nagel, he was Chief Operating Officer for Latin America at Pirelli for three years and had a long and varied leadership career at Ceva Logistics where he ended his time there as President for South Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Gianfranco studied Electronic Engineering at the University of Turin and has a Masters in Business Administration. He holds a degree in Music from the prominent musical institution, Giuseppe Verdi Academy in Turin. He is also the founder of a Foundation in Italy that supports people with Autism.

Martin joined Arriva Group as Interim Chief Financial Officer in March 2025 and has responsibility for the Group’s Finance division including financial reporting, audit and assurance, taxation, treasury operations and insurance. He also has overall responsibility for the group’s IT function and holds a position on the Arriva Executive Committee.

Martin previously held the position of Chief Financial Officer at Arriva Group from 2011 up until June 2020 when he made a decision to step back from the role to focus on other interests. He was at Arriva for 18 years in total, having joined in 2001 as Group Financial Controller. He was responsible for the key relationships with major banks as well as accounting and treasury compliance across the group.

Martin qualified as a chartered accountant in 1992 with Deloitte and Touche. He spent a further five years in the profession before joining Yorkshire Electricity Group plc where he became Head of Internal Audit and then Head of Corporate Accounting.

Alison joined Arriva in 2001 following a successful 15 years in the retail sector with The Boots Company where she carved out an admired reputation in a variety of senior HR and change management roles.

Within her team Alison leads and champions the long-term strategies for the HR, talent, group communications, and safety agendas – supporting the team to communicate, deliver the Arriva brand, its values, and support Arriva’s businesses to achieve their priorities.

These specialist areas include senior recruitment and development, talent management, internal and external communications, brand, digital communications and social media, and safety strategy.

Alison studied sociology at the University of York and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and of the British Psychological Society (BPS).

Chris was appointed as Group Business Development Director in September 2024 with responsibility for driving forward the company’s growth agenda. 

Chris is an experienced Managing Director with a track record in building revenue growth, delivering exceptional customer satisfaction and maintaining safety performance. He brings a deep expertise in the international transportation industry and has specific experience in contract tendering and market entry strategies from his time in a FTSE 250.

Over the course of his career, Chris has held a number of leadership positions, including at Mobico (formerly National Express Plc) where he spent 11 years. Most recently he was Managing Director of the Coach Division and before that he was their Group Commercial Director.

Prior to his time at Mobico, Chris worked at KPMG, developing his expertise in corporate finance. He is a qualified Corporate Treasurer having become an associate member of the Association of Corporate Treasurers in 2007. 

Chris is a graduate from Oxford University where he gained both a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Biochemistry.

Sian was appointed Managing Director Mainland Europe in July 2022, with responsibility for eight European countries, including Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Spain, Slovakia and Slovenia. Prior to taking up this role, Sian was already a member of the Arriva Executive Committee having joined Arriva as Chief Transformation Officer in March 2021 with responsibility for evolving the strategic vision of the Group.

Prior to joining Arriva, Sian held Executive Leadership positions at Sydney Water Australia for over four years including leading Customer, Strategy and Regulation where she led the long term strategy and transformation of the business. She also led frontline operations and customer service during a time of unprecedented operational challenges.

Over the course of her career, Sian has held various leadership positions with P&L accountability, including General Management, CFO and COO roles. She has worked in large, complex organisations in industries as diverse as aviation, utilities, construction, and government. In these roles she led strategy and transformation, frontline operations, customer, innovation, and finance, all with a keen focus on customer, commercial and business performance outcomes.

Sian has a Masters of Business Administration and a Masters of Aerospace Engineering, both from the University of New South Wales, Australia, and a Bachelor of Aeronautical Engineering (Honours) from the Queen’s University of Belfast in Northern Ireland. Sian is a graduate of the Institute of Directors UK, and the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She also has a Diploma of Project Management and is a qualified Programme Manager (MSP).

Amanda was appointed Managing Director of Arriva UK Trains in December 2024, having been Deputy Managing Director since 2014 as well as holding the position of Financial & Commercial Director for the UK Trains business division since 2011. With more than 20 years’ experience at Arriva alone, Amanda originally joined as Finance Director to Arriva Trains Wales before moving into her divisional roles at UK Trains.

Prior to Arriva, Amanda gained industry experience at National Express, and previously held positions in the manufacturing industry, including at Sony and Celtic Energy.

She has a proven track record in leading profitable businesses and driving forward growth agendas, including through M&A activity. She has overseen all strategic and commercial direction for the UK Trains business division, including responsibility for franchising contracts and building strong relationships with client bodies and passenger transport authorities.

Amanda is a qualified Accountant having done her training at the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.

Martijn joined Arriva in August 2025 as Managing Director of its UK Bus business unit, with responsibility for the growth and development of both London and regional bus. He is also a member of the Arriva Executive Committee.

Prior to joining Arriva, Martijn was Managing Director for FirstGroup’s Open Access rail operators, Lumo and Hull Trains, as well as for Transport for London contracted businesses under the Croydon Tramlink system and the First London Cableway. Before this he was Managing Director for The Go-Ahead Group’s regional bus operations, Go North East and East Yorkshire. Martijn spent four years as Chief Executive of council-owned Reading Buses from 2014 and spent some of his early career at Arriva.

Martijn’s career background speaks to his passion for quality passenger transport services. He brings a wealth of experience from major PLC’s through to Local Authority and independent SME businesses across bus, coach, metro and rail modes. 

Martijn is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport and sits as a Non-Exec Director of the North East Ambulance Trust’s fleet management and maintenance division (NEASUS).

Anne Hettinga joined the Arriva Executive Committee in the role of Managing Director, Arriva Netherlands in May 2021 with responsibility for growing Arriva’s presence in the Dutch market – Arriva’s largest market in Mainland Europe – and for supporting innovation in passenger transport solutions to meet the needs and demands of that market.

Anne has been with Arriva since 2000, holding various leadership positions. He joined as Finance Director for Arriva Netherlands before becoming CEO of the business in 2006 – a role he still holds today. He was then appointed to the Arriva Executive Committee in 2014 through to 2018 with the additional responsibility for growing Arriva’s presence across Northern Europe.

Prior to joining Arriva, Anne worked as a Finance Director for Ballast Nedam, a Dutch-based construction and engineering company, and before that worked for eight years as a Project Manager for Epon NV - the Netherlands’ largest power producer at the time. He started his career at NV PEB – an international supplier for the (petro)chemical and energy industries.

He holds various Board positions, including Chairman of the Federation Mobility Companies (FMN) in the Netherlands.

Anne studied Economics and Business at the University of Groningen and Accountancy at NIVRA and University of Amsterdam.