National Express Corporation, which owns Durham School Services in the United States and Stock Transportation in Canada, announced that John Elliott will continue on with the organization, focusing on customer and employee relations.
Elliott most recently served as interim president and CEO of National Express prior to David Duke being officially named to the post in June. Elliott was also president and chief operating officer of then Durham Transportation when it was purchased by National Express in 2000. Four years later, Elliott was named president and CEO of the newly rechristened Durham School Services.
“We are glad to have John in this newly created role,” said Duke. “John has always been an advocate for our customers and employees and we look forward to his continued counsel in those areas. In addition, his service on the NSTA board and active involvement in other groups will enhance the organization’s relationships within the industry.”
Elliott has logged 39 years in student transportation and even more years in the education world. In 1964 he became a junior high and high school English and history teacher and later a school administrator in Kankakee and Lockport, Ill. He joined a local automobile company in 1972 and was named president of the company two years later. The company was acquired by Ryder Truck in 1986, at which time Elliott was named western region GM for Ryder Student Transportation Services. He was named senior VP and GM of the entire division in 1993.
He survived Ryder’s acquisition by FirstGroup plc in 1999 and stayed with First Student for the next year before moving on to National Express.
Elliott was named “Contractor of the Year” by School Bus Fleet magazine in 2007 and a year earlier was elected into the NSTA Hall of Fame. He has been an active member of NSTA for more than 20 years and recently was elected to the Board of Directors, serving a term through 2013.
