Wrightbus appoints new CEO Axel J. Maschka as Ballymena firm plans global expansion and new jobs

New Chief Executive of Wrightbus, Axel J. Maschka

Zero-emission transport manufacturer Wrightbus has announced Axel J. Maschka as its new Chief Executive, marking a significant moment in the Ballymena-based company’s continued growth on the international stage.

Maschka, an accomplished senior executive with decades of experience in the global automotive supply chain, joins Wrightbus after holding top roles at Hyundai Mobis, Valeo, Volvo, Continental, Leclanché, Bosch and Mercedes-Benz.

His appointment comes as the company seeks to strengthen internal systems, enhance product quality and position itself for further global expansion.

He succeeds Jean-Marc Gales, who led the business for two-and-a-half years during a period of major transformation.

Since Jo Bamford acquired Wrightbus out of administration in 2019, the company has expanded from just 43 employees to more than 2,300, driven largely by surging international interest in its zero-emission bus technology.

‘Honoured to take the helm’

Maschka, who has worked extensively across Europe, Korea and wider Asia, said he was “honoured” to take on the leadership role and emphasised that Wrightbus was laying vital foundations for long-term global success.

“I am delighted to be taking over at Wrightbus and I have been given an extremely warm welcome – from owner Jo Bamford through to the people I have met on the shop floor,” he said.

“The Wrightbus of today is very different from the one that launched in 1946, but we must hold onto those traditional values where we treat our employees like family and our customers like royalty.

“Every post I’ve held has focused on the customer, putting them at the centre of everything we do, and I will continue this theme at Wrightbus.”

Plans to grow jobs and strengthen reliability

Under Maschka’s leadership, Wrightbus expects to create more jobs across its manufacturing plants in Ballymena and Malaysia. A major focus will be enhancing reliability by building supply chain resilience and expanding its after-sales service network.

The company, which produced the world’s first hydrogen double-decker bus, also manufactures leading electric and diesel models and operates Europe’s largest repowering facility, NewPower, in Oxfordshire.

Its refurbishment and repowering divisions have become key pillars of the wider HydraB Group, giving Wrightbus access to a broad ecosystem of clean transport technologies.

‘Right people, right skills, right facilities’

Maschka, 59, said that focusing on core principles would help the company expand its global market share.

“We offer so much alongside the actual bus itself,” he said.

“Being part of the HydraB Group gives us access to a whole portfolio of companies offering everything from depot infrastructure and charging to service and maintenance.

“I firmly believe we have the right people, the right skills and the right facilities to develop this historic company and put it on the world stage. Offering a complete solution really helps us stand out in the market.”

Fluent in German, French and English, Maschka is married with three children currently studying at universities in London and Oxford.