Southern Vectis is mourning the loss of its managing director, Andrew Wickham MBE, who has died following a long illness.
His passing has prompted an outpouring of sorrow across the transport industry and here on the Isle of Wight, where his influence on local bus services was deeply felt.
Andrew, who was recently awarded an MBE for services to the bus industry, dedicated nearly 40 years to public transport and remained at the helm of Go South Coast until his final days. His leadership transformed bus services not just on the Isle of Wight through Southern Vectis, but also across the wider South Coast.
A passionate and devoted figure, Andrew was widely respected by colleagues, staff and industry leaders. His drive to improve public transport led to a significant rise in bus travel across the region, with usage levels now among the highest in the UK.
Andrew’s career began while he was still at Aston University, graduating in 1987 with a BSc (Hons) in Transport Operation and Planning. His early roles included positions with Brighton Borough Transport, London General Transport Services and Plymouth Citybus.
In 2011, he became managing director of Go South Coast – the Go-Ahead Group’s regional operation which includes Southern Vectis, Morebus, Bluestar, Salisbury Reds, and others.
During his tenure, the business received numerous industry awards, including multiple wins as Large Operator of the Year. Despite these accolades, Andrew remained modest, always crediting his team for their collective success.
As a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, Andrew was not only a leader but also a mentor and advocate for progress in the sector.
Ben Murray, finance director at Go South Coast, has stepped in as interim managing director and will be supported by the Go-Ahead Group moving forward.
