The Severn Valley Railway has appointed Nick Paul as chairman of its operating company, Severn Valley Railway (Holdings) plc.
Mr Paul has previously headed the regional development agency Advantage West Midlands. The former chairman of MG-Rover Taskforce succeeds Mick York, who has been chairman for the past nine years.
An SVR life member since 1997 and Holdings board member since 2003, Mr Paul was nominated by his predecessor and won the unanimous vote of fellow directors.
The SVR has a new ambitious three year business plan.
“I’m not a railway enthusiast in the traditional sense. I tend to look at the railway from a business perspective, but this is evolution, not revolution,” says Mr Paul who started visiting the railway many years ago with his wife and children.
He has also chaired the West Midlands Confederation of British Industry and for two years was chairman of Midland Expressway Ltd which paid for and runs the 27-mile M6 toll road.
Nick Paul was awarded the CBE for services to industry in the 2009 New Year Honours. Interests include rugby and he is a director of Worcester Warriors rugby club.
