Cubic Hires Former Vix Chief as Head of Business Development, Replacing ‘Turnaround Expert’ in Post
Cubic Transportation Systems has replaced its head of business development–and turnaround expert–Rich Varos with fare-industry veteran and former head of Vix Technology David Maitland, Mobility Payments has learned.
The move, coming after Varos was in the job only little more than seven months, was unexpected. Few inside Cubic, even members of Varos’ team, are believed to have known about planned changes.
Cubic This Week Sees Transit Boards Act on Its Contracts in Four Major U.S. Cities–the Results were Mixed at Best
Board members for transit agencies in four major U.S. cities this week either proposed or approved changes to their contracts with the same fare systems vendor–Cubic Transportation Systems. Overall, it was not a particularly good week for Cubic.
The week started off badly for the vendor on two coasts, in New York and San Francisco.
Tip Sheet: Cubic Lays Off More Employees; Contends It Needs to ‘Become Leaner’ and More Competitive
Cubic Transportation Systems is laying off more employees in an effort, it says, to “become leaner and more responsive” to the market, Mobility Payments has learned.
The U.S.-based vendor, the largest fare-system supplier globally, already laid off more than 200 employees last summer. The latest round of layoffs is expected to be smaller than this previous one.
Tip Sheet: Why is EMV-Enabled Closed-Loop OMNY Card Failing to Take Off?
As Mobility Payments reported late last month, New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority has been issuing a reloadable closed-loop OMNY card since October 2021, which uses white-label EMV technology. But the card still makes up only 3% of OMNY transactions, according to an MTA spokesman.
That is a low rate of usage, especially given that the card is meant to serve riders who cannot or will not use credit and debit cards or open-loop cards in NFC wallets. This represents a lot of riders.
CEO of Thales Fare Unit: Expect ‘Continuity’ of Operations When Hitachi Takes Over
The head of fare-systems supplier Thales RCS confirmed that there will be a “continuity” of operations for the vendor after Hitachi Rail completes its acquisition of Thales Ground Transportation Systems, of which RCS is a part.
Jean-Marc Reynaud, CEO of Thales Revenue Collection Systems, told Mobility Payments that the €1.7 billion
Tip Sheet: Vix Chief Ross Dismisses Talk of Merger with Kuba
Vix Technology CEO Aaron Ross told Mobility Payments that even though he will continue to head up both Vix and Kuba and that the two fare vendors share a private equity owner and have a close working relationship, there are no plans for the companies to merge.
That echoes comments last month from Ross’ boss, Steve Gallagher, chairman of both Vix and private
Fee Waiver Helps Virtual Clipper Card Soar in San Francisco, though Growth Comes with Added Costs
San Francisco Bay Area transit operators have seen strong growth in the number of virtual closed-loop Clipper cards issued and the share of active users tapping these cards with Apple Pay and Google Wallet over the past 18 months or so, Mobility Payments has learned.
Many credit the decision by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, or MTC, to waive the $3 sign-up fee
Debacle in Singapore and What It Means for Account-Based Ticketing in the Market
Singapore’s Land Transport Authority for several years was an enthusiastic supporter of account-based ticketing and of its own implementation of the technology–even sometimes referring to its project by the industry abbreviation for the technology, “ABT,” in promotions to the public.
But that enthusiasm changed Jan. 9, after transport officials had announced to customers that they would have to give up their legacy closed-loop cards in favor of new ABT fare cards.
Cubic Reveals Organizational Chart of New Leadership Team Tasked with Getting Fare-Systems Vendor Back on Track
Cubic Transportation Systems president Peter Torrellas has recruited an expanded senior leadership team during his first 100 days on the job, including creating at least five new or revamped positions–as CTS seeks to recover its market stature, Mobility Payments has learned.
The organizational chart (see below) shows new positions for chief growth officer, chief digital officer
TIP SHEET: Cubic Hires VP of Innovation; More Virtual Cards for Google Wallet; Cal-ITP Disappoints Again
New Cubic Hire Hails from Firm Providing Info to Local Officials on Best Practices
Cubic Transportation Systems has made another key appointment from outside the organization and beyond the fare industry, hiring the co-founder of an organization that provides information and data on best practices to local government officials.