Greyhound's Parent Flix SE Plants North American Operations in Dallas, Makes C-Suite Moves

Greyhound’s Parent Flix SE Plants North American Operations in Dallas, Makes C-Suite Moves

Germany's Flix SE acquired Dallas-based Greyhound bus lines last year for $172 million, with a goal of applying pricing, routing, and timing algorithms to bus travel to appeal to travelers as an innovative, affordable, and environmentally friendly mode of travel.

Now it's formed Dallas-based Flix North America to oversee operations of both Greyhound and FlixBus across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico—and it's announced C-suite moves to help roll its mission forward.

After acquiring well-known Greyhound last year, the bus line’s parent company is consolidating its North American operations in Dallas.

Flix SE, the mobility company that owns both the Dallas-based Greyhound bus service and FlixBus, announced the formation of Flix North America to oversee operations of the two businesses across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. It also announced a new C-suite lineup.

“The acquisition of Greyhound last year was a major step forward for Flix; the expansion into two brands helped achieve an integral part of our growth strategy to build our global presence,” said André Schwämmlein, founder and CEO of Flix SE, in a statement. “By increasing synergies of both brands under Flix North America, we will continue to provide consumers with an affordable, comfortable, smart, and sustainable transportation solution much more efficiently.”

Kadir Boysan tapped as CEO, plus other C-suite moves

Kadir “Kai” Boysan, CEO of Flix North America, Inc. [Photo: Flix North America]

Leading the new entity as CEO is Kadir “Kai” Boysan, who has worked with Flix since 2019, when the company acquired Turkish bus service Kâmil Koç. Before that, Boysan served as a director at private equity firm Actera Group.

In addition, former Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits vice president of commercial finance Nathan Oujezdsky will take over the role of chief financial officer and former Greyhound COO Bill Blankenship will continue with Flix North America in that role, along with taking on the title of president.

The move comes as former Greyhound CEO Dave Leach, who joined the company in 1986 as a baggage handler and took over the top role in 2017, is retiring at the end of the year. Until then, Flix said Leach will remain with the company as a strategic advisor.

Former interim Greyhound CFO Cork Van Den Handel is also stepping down from his role.

“I look forward to seeing the future innovations this new entity will bring both to the intercity bus sector and its ability to better serve communities across the U.S.,” Leach said in a prepared statement.

Flix valued at more than $3B last year

Based in Germany, Flix acquired Greyhound from U.K.-based FirstGroup Plc last October for $172 million, following a $650 million Series G funding round that valued Flix at more than $3 billion. At the time, Flix was looking to apply pricing, routing, and timing algorithms to bus travel to appeal to travelers as an innovative, affordable, and environmentally friendly mode of travel, TechCrunch notes.

Flix North America says it has more than 2,500 destinations across its network.

“With Flix North America, we can harness both brands’ strengths and provide the best, most accessible transportation solution,” Boysan said in a statement. “Together with the existing team, we will push boundaries and work towards profitable growth.”