Martin Ballinger
Martin Andrew Stanley Ballinger (19 November 1943 – 28 February 2007) was one of the founders of Go-Ahead Group, one of the United Kingdom's largest transport companies.
Career
[edit]Born in Peterborough and educated at the Salesian School at Chertsey and Imperial College, London, Martin Ballinger qualified as a management accountant while working at the National Bus Company.[1] He became a General Manager there in 1982.[1] On the privatisation of the National Bus Company in 1987 he founded Go-Ahead Group in a management buyout[2][3] and, as its first Chief Executive, led its initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange in 1994,[4] and built it into one of the United Kingdom's largest transport businesses.[5]
Ballinger retired from Go-Ahead Group in May 2004.[6][7][8] In retirement Ballinger became Chairman of the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust and Chairman of Northgate.[1]
Ballinger lived at Bolam Hall (the former home of the Beresford family) in Northumberland.[1] He died at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle upon Tyne on 28 February 2007 and, following a funeral at St Mary's Cathedral, Newcastle upon Tyne, he was buried at Bolam Churchyard in Bolam.[1] Following his death, his successor at the Go-Ahead Group commented on Ballinger's significant contribution to the development of the UK passenger transport industry.[9]
The Ballinger family, led by Martin Ballinger, became one of the wealthiest families in the North East of England.[10] The Ballinger Charitable Trust, founded by Martin and Diane Ballinger, is a major a major vehicle for philanthropy in the North East of England, and remains one of the largest grant-making foundations there.[11][12][13]
Family
[edit]In 1968, he married Diana Susan Edgoose and together they went on to have a daughter, and then a son.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f Ballinger, Martin Stanley Andrew. Who's Who 2003. ISBN 978-0713662740. Archived from the original on 9 October 2012.
- ^ "Go-Ahead says 'non' to French takeover". Northern Echo. 24 August 2000. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ "Go-Ahead optimistic for its future in Irish market". Route One. 29 October 2018. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ "Man who made Go-Ahead go places steps down". Manchester Evening News. 15 February 2007. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ "Buses boss steps down". The Chronicle. 26 May 2004. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ "Go-Ahead at a Crossroads". Buses. 7 August 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ "Go Ahead Chief's Defiant Farewell". The Guardian. 27 May 2004. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ "Transport company chief to retire". The Irish Examiner. 26 May 2004. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ "Go Ahead pays tribute to founding father Ballinger". Transport Xtra. 9 March 2007. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ "Diana Ballinger and family". The Sunday Times. The Sunday Times Rich List 2009. 26 April 2009. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ "Ballinger, Martin and Ballinger, Diana". Philanthropy North East. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ "The Ballinger Charitable Trust". Philanthropy North East. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
- ^ "Creating a Cohesive Society". North East Times Magazine. 29 July 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2023.