Media centre

Wednesday 28 Sep 2011

NEW APPOINTMENTS FOR NETWORK RAIL CAPITAL PROJECTS BUSINESS UNIT

Region & Route:

National

Network Rail has announced the appointment of regional directors and programme directors to help shape the new business unit being developed to deliver capital projects more competitively and efficiently.

The regional directors will be responsible for delivery of major renewal and enhancement projects and programmes (excluding track renewals) in their area and will also be charged with winning new work under the competitive infrastructure proposed by Network Rail. Their roles will also include liaising with route managing directors and directors, route asset management.

The appointments will become effective in April 2012, reporting to Simon Kirby, managing director, investment projects.

Simon Kirby said: “Network Rail is in the midst of a significant period of investment, with projects such as Thameslink, Crossrail and hopefully the Northern Hub providing the capacity we need to cater for the ever-increasing popularity of rail travel whilst boosting Britain’s economy.

"The changes we’re making to our business will encourage competition, innovation and closer partnerships with our suppliers to deliver projects more competitively and efficiently.”

Roles and responsibilities

Roger Dickinson will be responsible for the north, including Scotland and London North Eastern routes.

Neil Thompson will manage the central region, which covers London North Western (north), London North Western (south), and the Birmingham Gateway and King’s Cross projects.

Nick Elliott will look after the southern region, including Sussex, Kent, Wessex, Anglia and the national platform extensions project.

Robbie Burns will have responsibility for Western and Wales, including Western, Wales, Crossrail, Reading redevelopment and electrification. Reporting to Robbie, Jorge Mendonca has been appointed as programme director for Crossrail.

On 31 October 2011 Mark Southwell will join as programme director – signalling, responsible for the delivery of all major signalling projects in CP4 and thereafter. This involves programme and project management, signal project engineering and signalling design. He will also report to Simon Kirby.

Mr Southwell joins from Atkins where he was managing director of projects, looking after their signalling business. He has also worked with Metronet and Amey and started his career as a graduate with British Rail. As Patrick Hallgate is taking up his new role as route managing director for Western, John Bettles will act as programme director in the interim period until Mark joins the company.

In addition, Jim Crawford will continue in the role of programme director – Thameslink and Graham Greener will continue as programme director – GSMR/FTN – national telecoms project.

Other senior appointments are currently being reviewed and it is expected further announcements will be made during October.