Meet the Team
Neil Micklethwaite
Neil Micklethwaite, Director of Strategic Development at Crescar, is a man who wears multiple hats. With his origins in accountancy, Neil’s career has spanned all facets of transport, from buses and trains to multinational corporates and start-up SMEs. Whether a business is actively delivering within the transport industry or sitting adjacent to it, Neil has likely played a role.
Whether it’s in the capacity of advisor, leader or champion, Neil has contributed to a wide range of businesses over the years, and continues to do so today, including Crescar.
Interviewer: How did you find your way into Crescar?
Neil: I was actually their first customer. I was working for one of the world’s largest public transport providers and the largest in the UK, and we were looking to expand in the Middle East.
My first contact was with Mark Kipling, based in the region, and with extensive industry and local knowledge. I employed him to undertake detailed market entry analysis for us and, on the back of that, to lead a bid and subsequent mobilisation strategy. As the needs of the project grew, Russell Watmore became involved, and during the project, Crescar came into formation.
Interviewer: So, we could say that you were behind the genesis of the company?
Neil: Unwittingly, Isuppose so, yes. I was certainly behind the project that gave Mark and Russell a foundation to build a business from.
Interviewer: And when did you formally join?
Neil: In 2022, Crescar was beginning to gain traction in the UK, and I was asked to join as a Non-Executive Director, bringing my experience in an advisory capacity. Then, in 2024, as the company continued to grow, I joined formally as Director of Strategic Development.
Interviewer: So, what does that involve on a day-to-day basis?
Neil: Having worked across all elements of transport from strategy, business development, service delivery to mergers and acquisitions, to leading bids, what I enjoy the most is business development and making connections. I’ve been referred to as a bit of a matchmaker in transport. I know and work with a lot of people, so there’s usually a connection or opportunity I can bring to any given challenge.
That’s what I apply at Crescar, bridging the gap between client needs and our expertise and bringing together the right teams for delivery. Alongside that, I’ve also been able to apply my corporate experience to help build the frameworks and foundations that support Crescar’s growth across the UK, Ireland the Middle East and beyond.
Interviewer: Speaking of expansion, there’s a new office in Stockport – congratulations!
Neil: Thank you. There’s a powerhouse of talent and capability in the North, and with successful integrated transport examples like the Manchester Bee Network, alongside upcoming opportunities in Merseyside, West, South Yorkshire and beyond, it felt like a natural fit to establish a presence in the region and support our growth.
Interviewer: You’ve had such a varied career, what has been the most fulfilling and interesting part for you?
Neil: I’m naturally very curious, I like talking to people and finding out more about them, their motivations and challenges. Helping people and companies to shape opportunities and essentially take the seed of an idea to help it grow – this is where my interest and passion lie.
I genuinely enjoy making those connections and seeing how the right people and ideas come together.
There’s a quote which always resonates with me: “I don’t know a lot about anything, but I know a little about practically everything.”
Interviewer: Where’s that from?
Neil: It’s from a 1940’s noir book and film called Laura. It’s a brilliant film, and I’d highly recommend it.
Interviewer: What type of films do you tend to enjoy?
Neil: A lot of the older noir films, ones that don’t overfill with exposition in the same way that modern films do and leave more to the imagination.
Interviewer: Someone told me once that the best stories fall just shy of completion and allow their imagination to take root and take things forward.
Neil: I can agree with that.
Interviewer: Do you have a collection of these older films?
Neil: I do, I have an extensive movie collection with over 700 films, the oldest dating back to 1915.
Interviewer: And is there a favourite era or genre?
Neil: Era – I love 1930s writing and films, it’s so clever, and my interpretation could be completely different to yours from the same source material. We don’t enjoy films in the same way anymore.
And as for genre, I do enjoy a good thriller or historical films, particularly gangster films.
Interviewer: I can’t claim to have watched many films from the 1930s, but I recently revisited The Godfather Parts I and II, and as far as gangster films go, they really are some of the best. I finally understand the hype.
Neil: Those films are fantastic. Not keen on the third one though.
Interviewer: Agreed!
Interviewer: Looking ahead, what are your ambitions for Crescar, and for yourself?
Neil: For Crescar, it’s about continuing to grow in the right way, bringing in good people, building the right partnerships, and creating opportunities where we can genuinely add value. There’s a lot of momentum in the business, and it’s about channelling that in a way that’s sustainable and meaningful.
For me, it’s continuing to do what I enjoy, connecting people, shaping opportunities and helping bring the right ideas together. If we can keep doing that well, the rest tends to follow.
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