Martin Andrew Stanley Ballinger (19 November 1943 – 28 February 2007) was one of the founders of Go-Ahead Group, one of the United Kingdom's largest transport businesses.
Born in Peterborough and educated at the Salesian School at Chertsey and Imperial College, London, Martin Ballinger qualified as a management accountant while working at the National Bus Company. [1] He became a General Manager there in 1982. [1] On the privatisation of the National Bus Company in 1987 he founded Go-Ahead Group in a management buyout [2] [3] and, as its first Chief Executive, led its initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange in 1994, [4] and built it into one of the United Kingdom's largest transport businesses. [5]
Ballinger retired from Go-Ahead Group in May 2004. [6] [7] [8] In retirement Ballinger became Chairman of the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust and Chairman of Northgate. [1]
Ballinger lived at Bolam Hall (the former home of the Beresford family) in Northumberland. [1] He died at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle upon Tyne on 28 February 2007 and, following a funeral at St Mary's Cathedral, Newcastle upon Tyne, he was buried at Bolam Churchyard in Bolam. [1] Following his death, his successor at the Go-Ahead Group commented on Ballinger's significant contribution to the development of the UK passenger transport industry. [9]
The Ballinger family, led by Martin Ballinger, became one of the wealthiest families in the North East of England. [10] The Ballinger Charitable Trust, founded by Martin and Diane Ballinger, is a major a major vehicle for philanthropy in the North East of England, and remains one of the largest grant-making foundations there. [11] [12] [13]
In 1968, he married Diana Susan Edgoose and together they went on to have a daughter, and then a son. [1]