Metro Tasmania Chair Michael Harris announced the resignation of Chief Executive Officer Stuart Wiggins on 23 May 2017.
Mr Wiggins’ resignation due to continued ill health takes effect immediately, and the state-owned company will now begin the search for a replacement.
During his term as CEO, Mr Wiggins oversaw many key projects, notably the successful replacement and subsequent patronage growth of Metro’s greater Hobart network last year.
Mr Harris said Mr Wiggins left behind a greatly improved corporate culture in which a new Bus Operator Enterprise Agreement was delivered peacefully without industrial action, and Metro’s safety performance had transformed to show dramatic improvements in key metrics.
“Among many operational changes in which Stuart has been instrumental, we are pleased with the competitive transition he has championed, illustrated by strong financial results and the award of a commercially available tender to expand services on the north west coast,” he said.
Mr Harris said an enduring legacy would be the role Mr Wiggins played in procuring support and funding for a plan to upgrade Metro’s fleet with 100 new buses over the next four years.
“Stuart’s leadership in this process vitally assisted in securing Tasmanian Government backing via Metro’s largest equity injection ever, a successful tender process resulting in new Tasmanian jobs, and importantly, improved amenity and accessibility for the Tasmanian travelling public,” he said.
Mr Wiggins said he was extremely proud to have been part of the Metro family during a time of significant cultural and operational change but had made the difficult decision to step down due to continued ill health.
“I have every confidence that the dedicated team at Metro will continue to build on the successes we have achieved and ensure Metro is a bus company of which all Tasmanians can be proud” Mr Wiggins said.
Mr Harris thanked Stuart for his role in developing Metro and public transport outcomes in Tasmania over the past two-and-a-half-years and wished him well in future endeavours.