Wrightbus appoints John McLeister as UK & Ireland sales chief and Phil Owen as Sales Director in wider management update
Zero-emission bus manufacturer Wrightbus announces a series of internal promotions and appointments across its sales and operational teams as it opens 2026. The changes form part of a broader organisational update affecting commercial, service and quality functions across the group. Wrightbus says the current UK and Ireland sales organisation alone accounts for more than 200 […]
Zero-emission bus manufacturer Wrightbus announces a series of internal promotions and appointments across its sales and operational teams as it opens 2026.
The changes form part of a broader organisational update affecting commercial, service and quality functions across the group. Wrightbus says the current UK and Ireland sales organisation alone accounts for more than 200 years of combined service with the company.
John McLeister becomes Wrightbus Managing Director of Sales for the UK and Ireland
John McLeister has been appointed Managing Director of Sales for the UK and Ireland. He joined Wrightbus as an apprentice at the age of 16 and has spent 36 years with the manufacturer, holding a range of commercial roles during that period, the company underlines.
Phil Owen, who joined Wrightbus in 2023 after a 28-year career with Volvo, has been appointed Sales Director. Other senior appointments and promotions in the UK include Gary Kernohan as Group Commercial Director; Chris Martin as Head of Business Development UK; Dave Porter as Head of Coach Sales; and Steve Jackson, Mick Campbell, Hazel Marshall and Mark Baker in senior sales roles.
Beyond sales, Wrightbus has made additional management appointments linked to quality, service and refurbishment activities. Lee Fox joins the company as Managing Director Refurbishment, while Mark Gilfeather has been appointed Service Director for Regional Operations. At the group’s Ballymena headquarters, David Murdoch has taken on the role of Group Quality Director.
The restructure follows the high-profile 2025 appointments of Christian Reynolds as Wrightbus COO and Paul Thomas as CTO as well as Axel J. Maschka as new CEO in December 2025.
“Wrightbus has grown significantly in recent years. While we take pride in how far we’ve come, we must now shift up another gear if we are serious about scaling further”, he says. “The experience inside this organisation, especially among teams who have stayed loyal through thick and thin, is one of our greatest strengths. Our commitment to learning, improving and pushing for excellence across the entire group has never been stronger.
