31/07/2000

Stagecoach Holdings plc announces the following appointments with immediate effect.

Brian Cox (52), at present group commercial director, is appointed executive director, UK bus.

Graham Eccles (54) will be appointed to the main board as executive director, rail operations. He also becomes chairman of South West Trains and a director of Virgin Rail Group.

Andrew Haines (35), at present operations director of South West Trains, replaces Mr Eccles as managing director, South West Trains.

Keith Cochrane, Stagecoach chief executive, said: "These appointments will strengthen our core rail and bus businesses in Britain and form part of our ongoing strategic review. "Brian Cox, our commercial director who is conducting that review, is handing on his rail responsibilities to concentrate on the development of our UK bus business. I am delighted to welcome Graham Eccles as an executive director of Stagecoach. He brings to the main board a lifetime of experience within his rail industry".