SeaLink’s new CEO in KI after Transit deal
SeaLink Travel’s new chief executive Clint Feuerherdt has described his first week on the job as “confronting”, visiting the bushfire-impacted Kangaroo Island.
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SA-based ferry and transport operator SeaLink Travel Group this week completed the acquisition of Transit Systems, with new chief executive Clint Feuerherdt visiting Kangaroo Island to take stock of the situation.
“I wasn’t expecting my first week in the role to be so confronting and our thoughts remain with all of those affected by the bushfires,” said Mr Feuerherdt, who is based in Adelaide.
“We will work alongside our operators and partners to ensure they have what they need during, and beyond, the recovery phase,” he said.
He is visiting the island alongside former chief executive Jeff Ellison.
SeaLink Travel Group has announced an initial $500,000 for immediate support of the local community, including $200,000 a cash donation to the Kangaroo Island Mayoral Relief and Recovery Bushfire Fund, as well as free ferry travel to the value of $2000 per Kangaroo Island property, home or business destroyed by the bushfires.
In October, Australian share market-listed SeaLink announced a near-$700 million deal to buy the Queensland-based company.
The acquisition has created a combined group with more than 8000 employees operating more than 3200 buses and 78 ferries in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, SA, Tasmania, the Northern Territory, Western Australia, London and Singapore.
Mr Feuerherdt, who was Transit Systems’ chief executive, replaced Jeff Ellison this week as SeaLink Group’s chief executive.
Mr Ellison will continue to provide support to Mr Feuerherdt to ensure a smooth transition of leadership by remaining as an executive director of SeaLink for a short period of time, a note to investors said.
He remains on the SeaLink board of directors as a non-executive director.
Neil Smith, Transit founder and father-in-law of Mr Feuerherdt, has also joined the SeaLink board, and now owns approximately 15.3 per cent of SeaLink shares on issue.