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A young lawyer working for the U.S., railway o ' Toole used to prefer spending days working at Stanley yard train Depot in Michigan rather than to student legal books at Headquarters. He claims even understand spotters.

"I think that big toys are infinitely fascinating people.""This is why they reduce these small holes in screens to construction sites so that people can watch the machines.Donc I guess I understand," explains more recent Executive Director of the FTSE 250.

O'Toole intervened wholesale shoes when he took the top position of page FirstGroup seven days ago. The former boss of London Underground replaced Sir Moir Lockhead, something of an institution in transport after 21 years of construction industry first group bus provincial minnows to one of the largest companies transport private world.

Sir Moir led a ￡ 5.5 m takeover of regional transport Grampian in 1989. Followed by a merger with Badgerline, entered in the UK rail market, the acquisition of the yellow bus operations and the United States Greyhound bus company. First group today is valued at close to ￡ transmitters, prides itself on income over ￡ 6bn and employs 130 000 people.

Some significant step in and then shoes? "". Moir is a colossus, such a huge presence."The company is so personality - when he pulls back, it is noticeable matter what I do," said o ' Toole, before suggesting that it would be far from overawed. "It is a company I know. I am not afraid. ?

O'Toole has been an administrator not leading to the first group for over a year for a second effort dedicated to front-line management retirement prior to agreeing to becoming Deputy in June of this année.Et while he keeps his cards close to his chest as plans are concerned - interim group last week results have much business as usual - a quiet confidence suggests that it will be not shy on stamping his mark on society.

He arrives at the right time. O ' Toole unveiled plans to strongly reduce debt from its current level of 5.3 ￡ 2 within 24 months and significant progress in recent years, FirstGroup fought to suppress the debt of its last week dos.La monkey.This is a message that descended into the city.

"We see that some ghosts here - the balance sheet, the comprehensive spending review - were resolved in our favour,"O ' Toole, explains.""

With all debt under control, but, for o ' Toole, the challenge is to find gear fifth of FirstGroup.Sous Sir Moir, the Group has gained a reputation as the reliable old industry transport, clear direction of toxic rail UK franchise successfully and cut off the bus in front of the récession.La services o ' Toole issue is that it allows to select the following speed.

"This strategy is something which gave us this healthy company. You leave a resistance like that - which is something that really they received Sir Moir - depart, and to follow a new fa?on.Cet instinct its is always at the back of my mind - make sure that you do not lose that.?

That does not mean that o ' Toole is not projects. A "recovery lawyer" turned Treasurer and Executive Director of the cargo area rail U.S. Conrail before a first effort at retirement, saw him give and reach the Metro, sometimes with a reputation as a man of operations. "I am firmly in that way the wisdom of the crowds that there is a little truth everywhere in the world and the trick is just to let percolate management. ?

Plans include introducing incentives for American ancillary business - "you have assets sitting here if you use when you are not the children to school, it is pure sauce" - school bus division staff as well as pushing harder at State United States to win new contracts in the sector.

UK bus services will be intensified after the reduction in slow. "I am really pushing and decide whether the best relationships at the local level can allow achieve us the optimal global benefit of volume of the issue being focused on revenue per thousand prix.Le is that you end up with just a mile where some guys will pay you ￡ billion."I am interested to others how their business.

And arm iron UK, where the Group operates and franchises, including the first Great Western and First Capital Connect, o ' Toole was a message to the Government before the unveiling of railway next spring review.

"We hope that comes from this longer is franchise." If you get a free longer, you then shot with staff commitment and creates better transparency and pushes people to lose their cynicism.This is a big obstacle to the railway undertaking now.

For us who have spent a frustrating half-hour arguing with railway staff, it is quite an aveu.Il sees clearly such cynicism FirstGroup? "".It is in all railway undertakings.There is something about the fact that company has been here that long, with trade union relations history and management, it has this built in the cynisme.Vous must give people an opportunity to enjoy and care.Shorter franchises are a barrier.?

To win the political battle o ' Toole should bring many of the lessons learned from seven years "extraordinary" to the underground.This is a period that witnessed the collapse of MetroNet - public-private partnerships (PPPs) responsible for the maintenance of the tube - failure contributed to o ' Toole rush through and builds its reputation as a difficult operator.

"My attitude - even if I thought that the PPP is a terrible structure - was that I was ready to work with it."When the truth of MetroNet began to prove, it took launches this thing as quickly as possible."This is a terrible arrangement and complete loss of money."

Executing the tube, o ' Toole leads the answer to the 7/7 attacks.That must have been a turning point? ""."Yes - it was nothing does that should never happen in my life and it is difficult to see some of the current replaying it."

It is not only its investors wishing him a peaceful moment FirstGroup.

Tim o ' Toole leader, first group

Age 55

FamilyMarried and father of two grown children

LivePhiladelphia, U.S.

EducationUniversity Hall, Pittsburgh law Philadelphie.Faculté

CareerConrail.London Underground.Premier Group

InterestsGolf with a handicap 12.lecture, travel

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