RailStaff brings you the latest top-level recruitment news from the past two months.
Mona Sihota becomes PWI president
Network Rail has announced that Mona Sihota, head of drainage and lineside, has been appointed as president of the PWI.
Mona brings over 35 years of experience working in the railway industry, including 22 years at Network Rail, and has led projects in design, construction, and asset management. In 2016, she became Network Rail’s first head of drainage, responsible for overseeing the management of the whole of the rail network drainage infrastructure.
Mona said, “I am very honoured. The PWI dates back to 1884 and steeped in railway history. It now offers me a unique opportunity to collaborate with industry leaders and drive forward initiatives that will shape the future of railway infrastructure.
“For me, the impact of extreme and adverse weather on our railways has been profound. I know from firsthand experience that the industry cannot work in isolation. Fostering collaboration and sharing innovations is key to improving and creating a more efficient and sustainable railway network that will ultimately enhance the industry’s resilience to climate change.”
Mona, who previously held the post of deputy president of the PWI, assumed the presidency in July and will serve a one-year term.
The PWI provides technical knowledge, advice, and support to the rail industry worldwide and works closely with leading organisations and government bodies, influencing and directly impacting industry training, management and competency standards.
Chris Clarke joins Northern from TfL
Northern has appointed Chris Clarke as its new head of operational delivery in the North West.
Clarke, from Stockport in Greater Manchester, has previously spent 13 years working at Transport for London (TfL).
At TfL he was responsible for resource planning of the 6,000-station staff on the London Underground as well as leading on major IT projects for the operations team. He also spent five years as operations manager for the Victoria line.
Clarke made the move to Northern in January 2022, joining the train operator as a disruption controller before becoming regional improvement manager in August 2022.
Commenting on his appointment, Chris Clarke, commented: “I’m really enjoying my time at Northern.
“The North West represents a huge part of the Northern network and I’m looking forward to getting stuck in and helping to improve service reliability for customers.”
Systra appoints sustainability lead
Accomplished sustainability manager Riona Ainge has been appointed to lead Systra’s sustainability efforts, focusing on reducing carbon footprint and broadening social value.
The role has been created to support Systra to deliver the four key pillars within its sustainability mission; social purpose, climate action, responsible business, and environmental stewardship.
Riona joined Systra four years ago, starting as a consultant in the Planning and Consents Team on the Main Works Civils Contract for HS2. She was then seconded to the role of sustainability manager for the Balfour Beatty Vinci Systra JV, working on the delivery of Old Oak Common Station (OOC).
She is part of the Next Generation Leadership Team (NGLT), sitting alongside other early career professionals to bring new perspectives and challenge to the business, and was a finalist for the Women in Construction and Engineering (WICE) Awards in 2024 and the prestigious Young Railway Professional of the Year 2023.
David White, director of Health, Safety, Security & Sustainability at Systra, said: “Riona’s appointment marks a step-change in the future of our sustainability mission at Systra.
“She brings a wealth of expertise and enthusiasm to this important role, and it is clear she is determined to drive genuine change and momentum across the business. I am very much looking forward to working with her on taking our sustainability mission forward.”
Riona added: “I am delighted to take on this important role for Systra, which aligns with my core values towards enhancing the environment and generating social value in our projects.
“My first priorities will be establishing our carbon management programme and creating distinct opportunities to deliver meaningful and lasting social value in the communities we serve.”
New business lead welcomed at Heathrow Express
Heathrow Express, has named Aoife Considine as its new business lead.
A chartered engineer, Aoife previously worked at Heathrow Express between 2018 and 2020 in the role of professional head of engineering. In this role she oversaw the safe maintenance of the previous fleet of trains, managed the leasing of trains to TfL Rail prior to the introduction of the Elizabeth Line, and supported preparations for the closure of Old Oak Common depot.
After earning her MBA from Imperial College London, Aoife returned to Heathrow in May 2023 as head of commercial strategy & planning, where she led capital investment initiatives.
Aoife said: “I am thrilled to be returning to Heathrow Express. Having worked closely with the team in the past, I’ve seen first-hand their commitment to innovation, safety, and providing an exceptional service to our customers, whilst continuing to enhance the customer experience and drive forward new opportunities for growth.”
Carlisle welcomes new director of transport security and policing
Carlisle Support Services announces the appointment of Allan Gregory as the new director of transport security and policing. After recently retiring from his role as the assistant chief constable for British Transport Police (BTP), Allan joins Carlisle to provide subject matter expertise to further support its well-established client base within the rail and transport sector.
With 32 years of experience within BTP, Allan brings a wealth of expertise within the industry having been responsible for operational performance across England, Scotland, and Wales. He also oversaw volume crime investigation, community and stakeholder engagement, use of force, stop search, custody operations, the Special Constabulary, and neighbourhood policing.
In his new role at Carlisle, Allan will work closely with the company’s director of rail strategy and the senior security and policing advisor to deliver a National Transport Security and Policing Solution. As a result, he will serve as the primary liaison with key stakeholders such as the Department for Transport, Home Office, Security Industry Authority, and more.
Allan has a strong track record of collaboration between policing and security resources in relation to the UK’s railway network and this experience will be paramount to tailoring Carlisle’s approach to policing within the transport industry.
On his appointment, Allan said: “I am delighted to be joining the Carlisle Support Services family. I am eager to learn, and it will be really interesting to see the UK’s railway network from a different perspective. I want to draw on my experience in policing in order to support Carlisle’s focus on the sector. I look forward to meeting the operational teams, our customers, and other key partners.”
New chief finance officer at GTR
Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), has announced that John Gerrard has been appointed as its chief finance officer (CFO) and will begin the role in November.
John will bring significant experience to GTR – he is currently lead finance director at Great British Railways Transition Team (GBRTT). There, he has been responsible for leading the team that has created new, whole industry financial tools and insight so that, for the first time, industry leaders can see the full picture on costs and revenues, including how they interact with each other across the system.
Within GBRTT he has also been a member of the fares, ticketing and rail reform Programme Board providing support and steer. He has also held a number of senior roles during 15 years at Network Rail.
Ralph Pidlsey, GTR’s current CFO, will retire this week. Having joined GTR in 2022 Ralph has been instrumental in supporting GTR’s recovery following the global pandemic.
Angie Doll, GTR’s chief executive officer, said: “I’m delighted to welcome John to GTR. He’s had an impressive career and will be a great addition to my team and the wider organisation. Not only are his technical skills excellent, but John is a natural collaborator with a keen eye on getting the best value for the customer.”
John said: “As a customer of GTR I’m very familiar with its services and I’m proud to join and be a part of the UK’s biggest railway operator. It’s a very important time for the industry and there’s a great opportunity for GTR to show how it can innovate to deliver value for money for customers as well as financial sustainability. I’m looking forward to meeting my new colleagues who I know work incredibly hard to serve their customers, and I’m excited at the prospect of using my skills and experiences to help improve GTR’s services for the hundreds of thousands of customers who use them.”
New managing director at Greater Anglia
Martin Beable has joined Greater Anglia (GA) as its new managing director. He returns to the company from Transport UK, where he has been the new trains and fleet director since October 2023.
Martin previously spent nearly five years as GA’s engineering director, where he helped to oversee the full fleet replacement programme and boost performance. He also led the upgrades for key train maintenance depots at Ilford and Norwich Crown Point and secured excellent commercial relationships with suppliers.
Commenting on his return to GA, Martin said: “I am delighted to be returning to GA as its new managing director. With new trains right across our network and industry-leading punctuality, we are well placed to keep on improving rail services for customers and communities throughout our region.
“Everyone at GA is committed to delivering the best possible service, day in, day out, and I am passionate about the role the railway plays in ensuring East Anglia is a successful and sustainable place to live and work.”
Martin succeeds Jamie Burles, who is taking on a new role at Network Rail’s Eastern Region.
Jamie said: “I am proud to have been part of a great team at GA which has delivered a transformation in train services in our region over the past decade. We made a commitment to a positive step change in service quality, with new trains and better performance, and we have fulfilled that pledge.
“I am sure Martin Beable will maintain that cycle of continuous improvement, to provide even better services for passengers.”
Laura Shoaf named chair of Shadow Great British Railways
The Transport Secretary has appointed Laura Shoaf as chair of Shadow Great British Railways (SGBR).
In the role, Laura will help drive the Government’s overhaul of the railways, bringing senior leaders together to deliver improvements for passengers and work towards a more unified rail system. SGBR will also help design Great British Railways.
Before leading the WMCA, Laura was managing director of Transport for West Midlands where she oversaw a multi-million-pound transport investment package for the region. She was the first female chair of the Urban Transport Group, which comprises transport leaders from across the UK, and supported the industry on its recovery from the Covid-19 emergency.
A recognised expert who has advised on national policy, Laura was also one of the UK’s first Transport Champions for Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls. Her experience will be key in making the rail network more accessible and safer for all passengers.
Transport Secretary Louise Haigh said: “Establishing Shadow Great British Railways is a significant step towards delivering a unified railway with passengers at its heart by bringing together track and train – and it’s fantastic we have someone of Laura’s calibre to drive forward reforms.
Laura said: “I recognise the great power that our transport network plays in our day to day lives, but in order for it to work, and in order for it to keep opening up these opportunities, it has to be built around our passengers and freight users.
“It is my privilege to have been asked to chair Shadow Great British Railways, and my focus will be ensuring people are at the heart of the railways and to ensure this remains a focus for years to come.”
As chair, Laura will be tasked with ensuring SGBR’s leadership drives forward plans for improvement and challenging industry to deliver, while ensuring the interests of passengers, freight users and taxpayers remain at the forefront of everything SGBR does.
TRU announces new managing director
James Richardson has been announced as the new managing director of the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU), the multi-billion railway electrification scheme delivering faster, cleaner and greener journeys for millions of people across the north of England.
Highly experienced in major programmes, James is currently managing director of the Skanska Costain STRABAG joint venture delivering the HS2 London tunnels.
James said: “Leading this ambitious infrastructure programme of national importance is a huge source of pride for me. It will benefit millions of people by improving the connectivity between towns and cities.
“TRU is making fantastic progress and already demonstrating how complex infrastructure can be delivered safely and efficiently. I can’t wait to get started working with such talented teams and individuals in order to see that continue to develop.”
Welcoming James, Rob McIntosh, Network Rail’s North West and Central managing director, said: “Given the scale of our works – one of the biggest programmes in Europe and carried out on a live railway – I am really happy we’ve appointed a very capable leader who can manage our unique challenges and lead TRU to continued success.”
James will take up his post on TRU in the new year.
GTR appoints first ever security improvement manager
Hannah Lindsay has become Govia Thameslink Railway’s (GTR) first ever security improvement manager.
Hannah joined GTR as a rail enforcement officer (REO) in 2019, where she worked on the frontline keeping customers safe for four years. Now GTR’s first-ever security improvement manager, Hannah has turned her attention to cracking down on antisocial behaviour as part of the train operator’s £2.5 million Antisocial Behaviour Improvement Plan.
“I’ve always been passionate about security and policing from my time as a Rail Enforcement Officer, so when I saw the security improvement manager role I applied straight away, because I want to help drive change so our customers and colleagues feel safe on our network. My role is one of several new positions GTR is investing in to bolster our safety and security teams, so I’m excited to make a difference over the next 12 months.”
One of Hannah’s first projects will be supporting stations through the Secure Station Scheme, which is run by the Department for Transport (DfT) and British Transport Police (BTP). Stations can receive accredited status by ensuring crime is monitored, reported and investigated properly.
“The crucial element to the Secure Stations Scheme is to review potential patterns behind crime to put preventative measures in place. For example, if a station has a problem with graffiti and vandalism, we must identify how we can increase the risk of detection, implement additional surveillance techniques and review how we can communicate and engage with people in that area to resolve that issue.”
Arriva appoints Chris Hardy to management board
Arriva Group has appointed Chris Hardy to its management board as group business development director.
Chris joins Arriva having spent 11 years at Mobico (formerly National Express Plc) where he was managing director of the Coach Division and prior to that group commercial director. Chris’ extensive experience in the transport sector will be valuable to Arriva at a time when it’s looking to grow across Europe.
Prior to his time at Mobico, Chris worked at KPMG, developing a strong corporate finance background. He has proven experience in international transport market development and has led a number of successful businesses.
Mike Cooper, CEO of Arriva Group said: “This is an important appointment for the execution of our strategy and I’m looking forward to welcoming Chris to the leadership team.
“We will benefit from the wealth of experience he brings with him to Arriva as we look to grow our business and consolidate our position as one of Europe’s leading passenger transport companies.
“We have a strong ambition for this company and Chris will be an instrumental addition to the management board at a critical point in our journey.”
OnSite names new managing director
Specialist rail sector contractor OnSite, a South Staffordshire PLC business, has announced the appointment of Joel Stevens as its new managing director, following an external selection process.
Joel joins OnSite from utilities and low carbon infrastructure management business MUJV, where he was managing director. Before this, he held senior roles at Veolia Water UK and May Gurney Utilities, which has since been acquired by the Kier Group.
Charley Maher, CEO of South Staffordshire PLC, said: “I am delighted to welcome Joel to OnSite and the wider South Staffordshire Plc Group. He brings with him extensive experience in operations, commercial strategy, and business development which will be instrumental in driving OnSite’s continued success and expansion. This is a key appointment for our Group as we continue to grow.
I look forward to him joining us later this year, and to the OnSite leadership team continuing to drive the business forward to deliver for our clients, employees, and wider community. I’d like to take this opportunity to also thank Andrew Lobley, Interim MD at OnSite, for the significant progress and contribution he has made to the business in a short period of time as he moves on to his next role within our Group.”
Stephen Barker named SLC Ireland lead
SLC has appointed Stephen Barker as regional lead for Ireland, reinforcing its commitment to advancing rail development in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
The rail consultancy has supported clients with over 100 rail projects across Great Britain and is now expanding to help new clients in Ireland.
Stephen, who has over 30 years’ experience working on the railway, possesses a unique blend of skills that can assist Ireland with its rail ambitions, having worked on a wide range of similar projects in Great Britain from inception to completion. His experience spans new station builds, major station refurbishments, line extensions, and reopenings. He also played a key role in establishing the case for East West Rail.
“While much of my expertise lies in the early stages of planning and development,” Stephen explained, “I’ve also been involved throughout the entire project lifecycle, so I understand the challenges that follow the planning phase of a rail project.”
“Like many of my SLC colleagues, I have also had front-line experience of delivering a train service and being part of the day-to-day operation of a train operating company, so I understand how those projects influence the daily operation and how they must be designed to suit what the operators need to deliver rather than be designed alone as engineering schemes.”
Stephen joined SLC in 2023 and has spent a lot of time understanding and pursuing opportunities in Ireland. Stephen continues: “If you turn the clock back 20 years in Great Britain, I was involved in many similar schemes to those being set out in the All-Island Strategic Rail Review. These also focused on growing patronage on the railways and were also transformative.”
He added: “Even if only a fraction of the All-Island Strategic Rail Review is taken forward, it will transform rail travel and address some of the imbalances between different modes, both for passengers and freight.
“I feel very excited by the scale of ambition within the review.”
Image credit: iStockphoto.com/da-kuk