People News: Keolis, Trapeze, BAI Communications
Written by Marybeth Luczak, Executive Editor
Nichole Gladney, Keolis North America; Paul Comfort, Trapeze Group America (center); and Andrew McGrath, BAI Communications
Keolis North America has hired a Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; Trapeze Group America has promoted a well-known transit advocate to Chief Customer Officer; and BAI Communications has appointed a Global Chief Commercial Officer.
Nichole Gladney is the new Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) for public transit operator Keolis, which has contracts with agencies such as MBTA Commuter Rail. With 13 years of DEI programming experience, Gladney has worked to increase awareness and communication, improve representation and retention, and drive accountability through leadership positions at Kraft Heinz and Ahold Delhaize as well as with nonprofits, academia and the public sector.
Gladney’s “diverse background in public- and private-sector initiatives will be especially crucial, given our public-private partnerships,” Executive Vice President of Human Resources and Safety Robert Anderson said. “Her commitment to improving opportunities for all employees and helping to develop an employee experience that has belonging at the core of our efforts is an exciting step for Keolis in North America.”
Paul Comfort has been promoted to Chief Customer Officer and Senior Vice President, following three years as Vice President of Business Development. While at Trapeze, Comfort has hosted numerous CEO roundtables and webinars, including Trapeze’s ThinkTransit Executive Summits; spoken at more than 100 conferences and events worldwide; and launched the Transit Unplugged podcast. He will continue to speak at events and to serve as the Trapeze representative for transit industry associations. Comfort, the former Maryland MTA CEO, is also Executive Director for the North American Transit Alliance.
He recently published “Public Transportation – From the Thumb Railroad to Hyperloop and Beyond,” a children’s picture book presenting “the wonderful world of public transportation.”
As the Global Chief Commercial Officer based in London, Andrew McGrath will help drive growth across Europe, North America and Australia for BAI Communications, the parent company of Transit Wireless. He has more than 30 years of experience, and served most recently at Vodafone Carrier Services as Senior Vice President, responsible for global sales and business development. McGrath has also held executive-level roles at Virgin Media, Verizon and Cable Wireless.
“Andrew’s ability to identify new market opportunities and gain stakeholder support right across our broader industry, demonstrates a unique combination of relationship skills and commercial acumen,” Group CEO Igor Leprince said. “This, alongside his skill in advancing innovation, will make him a great asset to the BAI’s evolving business and transformative developments in the 5G and neutral host space.”
