{{Short description|British businessman}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}} {{Use British English|date=January 2018}} '''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 companies.
==Career== 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.<ref name=bio>{{cite book|url=http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=medgoose1538&id=I0514|title=Ballinger, Martin Stanley Andrew|publisher= Who's Who 2003|isbn=978-0713662740|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009155119/http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=medgoose1538&id=I0514 |archive-date=9 October 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> He became a General Manager there in 1982.<ref name=bio/> On the privatisation of the National Bus Company in 1987 he founded Go-Ahead Group in a management buyout<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/7132169.go-ahead-says-non-french-takeover/|title=Go-Ahead says 'non' to French takeover|date=24 August 2000|newspaper=Northern Echo| access-date=18 December 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.route-one.net/news/go_ahead_optimistic_for_future_in_irish_market/|title=Go-Ahead optimistic for its future in Irish market|date=29 October 2018|newspaper=Route One| access-date=18 December 2023}}</ref> and, as its first Chief Executive, led its initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange in 1994,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/business-news/man-who-made-go-ahead-go-1109910|title=Man who made Go-Ahead go places steps down|newspaper=Manchester Evening News|date=15 February 2007| access-date=18 December 2023}}</ref> and built it into one of the United Kingdom's largest transport businesses.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/buses-boss-steps-down-1618516|title=Buses boss steps down|date=26 May 2004|newspaper=The Chronicle| access-date=18 December 2023}}</ref>
Ballinger retired from Go-Ahead Group in May 2004.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.keybuses.com/article/go-ahead-crossroads|title=Go-Ahead at a Crossroads|date=7 August 2022|newspaper=Buses| access-date=18 December 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2004/may/27/transportintheuk |title=Go Ahead Chief's Defiant Farewell|newspaper=The Guardian|date= 27 May 2004|access-date=18 December 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/business/arid-30149376.html|title=Transport company chief to retire|date=26 May 2004|newspaper=The Irish Examiner| access-date=18 December 2023}}</ref> In retirement Ballinger became Chairman of the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust and Chairman of Northgate.<ref name=bio/>
Ballinger lived at Bolam Hall (the former home of the Beresford family) in Northumberland.<ref name=bio/> 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.<ref name=bio/> 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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.transportxtra.com/publications/transit/news/1089/go-ahead-pays-tribute-to-founding-father-ballinger/|title=Go Ahead pays tribute to founding father Ballinger|date=9 March 2007|newspaper=Transport Xtra|access-date=18 December 2023}}</ref>
The Ballinger family, led by Martin Ballinger, became one of the wealthiest families in the North East of England.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/diana-ballinger-and-family-qf8r8gxdsn0|title=Diana Ballinger and family|publisher=The Sunday Times Rich List 2009|date=26 April 2009|newspaper=The Sunday Times| access-date=18 December 2023}}</ref> The Ballinger Charitable Trust, founded by Martin and Diana 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.philanthropynortheast.com/the-philanthropists/ballinger-martin-and-ballinger-diana|title=Ballinger, Martin and Ballinger, Diana|publisher=Philanthropy North East|access-date=18 December 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.philanthropynortheast.com/organisations/ballinger-charitable-trust|title= The Ballinger Charitable Trust |publisher=Philanthropy North East|access-date=18 December 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://netimesmagazine.co.uk/magazine/editorial/creating-a-cohesive-society/|title=Creating a Cohesive Society|date=29 July 2020|newspaper=North East Times Magazine| access-date=18 December 2023}}</ref>
==Family== In 1968, he married Diana Susan Edgoose and together they went on to have a daughter, and then a son.<ref name=bio/>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ballinger, Martin}} Category:1943 births Category:2007 deaths Category:Alumni of Imperial College London Category:People from Peterborough Category:People in bus transport Category:British company founders