THE award-winning boss of one of Scotland's biggest bus companies is stepping down after less than six months to pursue a career outside the industry.

Fiona Kerr, managing director of First Bus in Scotland, is understood to have been headhunted by Northampton-based timber and builders' merchant, Travis Perkins, and is expected to take over as their head of operations in Scotland from mid-October.

Ms Kerr tendered her resignation to First bosses last week.

She first joined the bus group in November 2010 as its regional finance director for Scotland, having previously worked for PwC and John Menzies as a chartered accountant.

Her departure from First means she will also be stepping down from her role as chair of the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) Scotland, the umbrella body for bus operators.

It comes less than six months after the 37-year-old was promoted to the national role, which involved overseeing the bus giant's operations in Glasgow, Aberdeen and the east of Scotland, after spending three years as managing director at its First Glasgow division.

Dave Alexander, divisional director for First Bus, confirmed Ms Kerr was leaving the industry.

He said: "We will be sad to see her go and wish her every success in her new role.

"We are currently working through arrangements to recruit a new Managing Director. In the meantime, Fiona will continue in her current role."

A spokesman for CPT Scotland, where Ms Kerr will be replaced by vice-chair Sandra Whitelaw, added: "CPT is sorry to see Fiona leave the bus industry.

"During her time as CPT Chair Fiona has been an important figure in the industry’s push towards smart and integrated ticketing and a great advocate for issues such as gender balance in the passenger transport sector.

"We wish her every success in her next role."

Paisley-born Ms Kerr was the first female managing director at any of First's regional bus divisions and spoke about her desire to attract more women into the heavily male-dominated bus industry.

She succeeded in creating a 50-50 gender split in her executive team while in charge of First Glasgow and, in 2015, scooped the prestigious 'Woman of the Year' award at the FTA everywoman in Transport & Logistics Awards.

Her departure is a blow for the bus giant amid a turbulent period, with drivers recently threatening strike action over staff shortages and an ongoing investigation into a "runaway bus" incident in Glasgow city centre.

The bus giant was also criticised for announcing plans in May to axe all its bus services in East Lothian and close its depots in North Berwick and Musselburgh, threatening 88 jobs. The depots and services were subsequently taken over in July by East Coast Buses - a subsidiary of publicly-owned, Lothian Buses.

One industry source told the Herald he thought Ms Kerr - who is well-regarded by colleagues across the sector - was making a "wise move" by leaving "before she's pushed", suggesting that she may have been made to carry the can for the bus giant's recent problems.

It emerged at the weekend that the bus which careered out of control in Renfield Street, Glasgow on July 18 was put back on the road after suffering an apparent brake failure.

The driver of the vehicle, which was empty, had parked it on the street while he went to buy a drink at a nearby newsagent. Moments later, the double decker rolled down the hill, smashing into a stationary vehicles and injuring pedestrians.

Initial reports suggested the driver had forgotten to apply the handbrake, but driver error is now said to have been ruled out by investigators.