Richard Bowker (British businessman)
Encyclopedia
Richard Bowker CBE
(born 1966) is former Chief executive officer
of National Express Group
. He attended Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Blackburn
, read Economics at Leicester University, and played as a professional session pianist for a year, after which he joined the London Underground as a Graduate Finance Trainee in 1989; in the course of his work with the Underground, he is credited with the launch of a new leasing system for trains in 1997.
Bowker was appointed co-Chairman of Virgin Trains
in 1999 & Commercial Director for the Virgin Group
in 2000. He has also founded the transport consultancy Quasar Associated.
In 2001 he was appointed chairman of the Strategic Rail Authority
, & in the 2004 New Year's Honours List, he was appointed CBE. In 2006, he was appointed CEO of National Express Group PLC.
Bowker is a chartered management accountant and a Non Executive Director of British Waterways
; he is also CEO of Etihad Railway in the UAE.
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
(born 1966) is former Chief executive officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of National Express Group
National Express Group
National Express Group plc is a British transport group headquartered in Birmingham that operates bus, coach, rail and tram services in the UK, the US and Canada, Spain, Portugal and Morocco and long-distance coach routes across Europe...
. He attended Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Blackburn
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School, Blackburn
Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School is a co-educational independent school in Blackburn, Lancashire, founded in 1509 as a boys' school. The term "school" is usually used to collectively refer to the following:...
, read Economics at Leicester University, and played as a professional session pianist for a year, after which he joined the London Underground as a Graduate Finance Trainee in 1989; in the course of his work with the Underground, he is credited with the launch of a new leasing system for trains in 1997.
Bowker was appointed co-Chairman of Virgin Trains
Virgin Trains
Virgin Trains is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. It operates long-distance passenger services on the West Coast Main Line between London, the West Midlands, North West England, North Wales and Scotland...
in 1999 & Commercial Director for the Virgin Group
Virgin Group
Virgin Group Limited is a British branded venture capital conglomerate organisation founded by business tycoon Richard Branson. The core business areas are travel, entertainment and lifestyle. Virgin Group's date of incorporation is listed as 1989 by Companies House, who class it as a holding...
in 2000. He has also founded the transport consultancy Quasar Associated.
In 2001 he was appointed chairman of the Strategic Rail Authority
Strategic Rail Authority
In existence from 2001 to 2006, the Strategic Rail Authority was a non-departmental public body in the United Kingdom set up under the Transport Act 2000 to provide strategic direction for the railway industry....
, & in the 2004 New Year's Honours List, he was appointed CBE. In 2006, he was appointed CEO of National Express Group PLC.
Bowker is a chartered management accountant and a Non Executive Director of British Waterways
British Waterways
British Waterways is a statutory corporation wholly owned by the government of the United Kingdom, serving as the navigation authority in England, Scotland and Wales for the vast majority of the canals as well as a number of rivers and docks...
; he is also CEO of Etihad Railway in the UAE.