Tracsis hires Ricardo UK Director as CEO

15 January 2019 Consultancy.uk

A Managing Director from the automotive consulting wing of Ricardo UK is set to become the new Chief Executive of Tracsis. Chris Barnes will helm the transport software business from February 2019.

The Tracsis Group is an international provider of software and services for the planning and management of mass transit operations. Founded in 2004, the firm now has around 75 permanent staff, who work to develop and supply a range of software products used extensively within the rail and other public transport sectors. Tracsis has three offices in the UK, with clients and a track record of undertaking projects in Europe, the Middle East and Australasia.

As the firm looks to expand its operations in the coming years, it has announced the appointment of its new Chief Executive. Joining the Leeds headquartered firm in February from consultancy Ricardo, Chris Barnes will assume the position following a transition period, which will see him gradually succeed John McArthur. The incumbent CEO plans to step down from the role in the first half of 2019 to focus on family and other non-business matters. He will continue to work with Tracsis in a part-time advisory capacity, with a remit of advising and assisting on further M&A activity.

John McArthur said, "After careful consideration about my own future aspirations, now is the right time to transition out of the business and allow a new leader to take up the reins for our next phase of growth… As a significant shareholder in a business I helped create, the continued success of Tracsis is of utmost importance to me. My transition comes at a time when the group is very well positioned for the future, has a clear strategy, a great management team, and a strong pipeline of organic and acquisitive opportunities."

With more than 20 years' experience working across the transportation and software sectors and having completed numerous M&A transactions, Barnes has previously held a number of senior roles within Shoreham-by-Sea-headquartered Ricardo. These have included becoming the Managing Director of Ricardo Software, as well as being the New Ventures Director and Global Product Group Director. Having studied at the University of Oxford, Barnes started his career at Ford Motor Company before joining global management consultancy AT Kearney.

Commenting on his new role, Barnes said, "I am excited to be appointed chief executive of a highly-respected and fast-growth business such as Tracsis… I look forward to working with the board and the management team to continue the growth trajectory and deliver on the numerous organic and acquisitive opportunities open to the business in the coming years."