National Express director leaves after boardroom shake-up

A SENIOR director of National Express left the company with a pounds 200,000 pay-off yesterday after a boardroom shake-up which concentrates further power in the hands of Phil White, its chief executive.

Alan Kelsey, group corporate development director, left National Express "by mutual consent" after a review of boardroom responsibilities left him without a job. Mr Kelsey was on a one-year rolling contract and was paid about pounds 200,000 last year. He is understood to have received his full entitlement.

Mr White said Mr Kelsey's role was to lead the development of the group and that included identifying opportunities for acquisitions and expansion of the business. "He left because the board decided that should be the role of the chief executive and the finance director," added Mr White.

In the past four years National Express has expanded massively to take on airports, trains and buses in addition to its core long-distance coach business. It is the biggest single operator of privatised rail services and will receive pounds 2.8bn of subsidies over the life of its franchises.