# Martin Ballinger

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{{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](/source/Go-Ahead_Group), one of the United Kingdom's largest transport companies.

==Career==
Born in [Peterborough](/source/Peterborough) and educated at the [Salesian School](/source/Salesian_School%2C_Chertsey) at [Chertsey](/source/Chertsey) and [Imperial College, London](/source/Imperial_College%2C_London), Martin Ballinger qualified as a [management accountant](/source/Chartered_Institute_of_Management_Accountants) while working at the [National Bus Company](/source/National_Bus_Company_(UK)).<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](/source/General_Manager) there in 1982.<ref name=bio/> On the [privatisation](/source/privatisation) of the [National Bus Company](/source/National_Bus_Company_(UK)) in 1987 he founded [Go-Ahead Group](/source/Go-Ahead_Group) in a [management buyout](/source/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](/source/Chief_Executive), led its [initial public offering](/source/initial_public_offering) on the [London Stock Exchange](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Chairman) of the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust and [Chairman](/source/Chairman) of [Northgate](/source/Northgate_plc).<ref name=bio/>

Ballinger lived at Bolam Hall (the former home of the [Beresford family](/source/Baron_Decies)) in [Northumberland](/source/Northumberland).<ref name=bio/> He died at the [Royal Victoria Infirmary](/source/Royal_Victoria_Infirmary) in [Newcastle upon Tyne](/source/Newcastle_upon_Tyne) on 28 February 2007 and, following a funeral at [St Mary's Cathedral, Newcastle upon Tyne](/source/St_Mary's_Cathedral%2C_Newcastle_upon_Tyne), he was buried at Bolam Churchyard in [Bolam](/source/Bolam%2C_Northumberland).<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

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Martin Ballinger](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Ballinger) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Ballinger?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.