Following a three way pitch, French based transport provider Keolis has appointed Four Communications to raise the profile of its UK arm ahead of a planned expansion of its business in the country over the next two years.

The company – majority owned by French rail operator SNCF – already runs four UK rail franchises in joint ventures (including Southern, South Eastern and London Midland) and is targeting new rail and Light Rail business starting with the InterCity West Coast Franchise, for which Keolis in partnership with SNCF pre-qualified in April, and the Nottingham Express Transit where it is part of the Nottingham Tramlink consortium recently announced as preferred bidder.

Keolis UK MD Alistair Gordon, who is leading the company’s expansion, said: “Keolis with 47,000 employees across 12 countries is a world leading public transport provider. But despite having run successful services in the UK since the mid-1990s we are not as well known here as we should be. We have tasked Four with ensuring that we become better understood as a world class provider of passenger services with long standing and proven experience in the UK.”

Four’s public affairs Director Jim Dickson, will lead the account, reporting to Alistair Gordon and International Marketing Manager Colin Lea.