Keith Ludeman

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Keith Ludeman (born January 28, 1950 in Bromley, Kent),^[1] is the English Chief Executive of Go-Ahead Group plc.

Ludeman was educated at Bromley Technical High School,^[1] and then undertook a degree in geography at Newcastle University.^[2] After graduating in 1972 he joined Tynemouth and District Transport as a conductor (badge number AA 52142), for a summer job, but stayed 15months before undertaking an MSc at the University of Salford, with a thesis entitled: Problems And Planning of Community Railway Stations.^[2]

Ludeman then joined the local transport authority in Greater Manchester in the planning department, before switching to line management in Lancashire where he gained his bus driver's licence (badge number N 12281). After eight years he and his wife moved to Hong Kong where he worked as senior transport officer, before becoming a consultant in the private sector and then returning to the United Kingdom selling software for scheduling bus crews.^[2]

In 1986 Ludeman became managing director of the council owned Burnley & Pendle, but after turning a £1million loss to a £1million profit he returned to London to join London Regional Transport. Under Margaret Thatchers governments privitisation initative, Ludeman became part of the management team at what became London General, one of 11 bus companies split from London Transport. After six years, Ludeman lead a management buyout of London General for £28million.

When the financial backers of London General wanted to sell, Ludeman as a result joined Newcastle based Go-Ahead in 1996. He was appointed Managing Director of the group's London bus division in 1997, and then moved over to head the rail division in 1999, renaming Southeastern Trains back to the pre-grouping name of Southern.^[2] Ludeman had been a main board advisor since 1998, and became a director in September 2004. He was appointed as Chief Executive in July 2006 following the resignation on health grounds of Chris Moyes.^[3]

Ludeman is a fellow of the Institute of Logistics and Transport and of the Institute of Railway Operators. He was Chairman of the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) until 2005.^[4]

[edit] Personal life

Married to Diane, the couple have two daughters. The family home in Shere, Surrey together with a holiday home in Cannes, were brought from the share sale proceeds of Go-Ahead's purchase of London General Omnibus.^[1] He enjoys swimming, sailing and scuba diving.