Who has been the best and worst MDs and CEOs of TOCs?

[Phil.]

Half of this thread is pointless, the worst MD is/was/forever will be Charles Horton. No fathomable understanding of how he originally became an MD and how he became one again after Connex...

As to best I've heard that Tim Clarke of Anglia was meant to be fairly well liked. Personally I quite liked Ruud Hacket on AGA.

Tim Clarke, AKA the poison dwarf. I'm glad someone mentioned Tim Shoveller. Hard working and enthusiastic were his claims to fame. Also happy to accept what went wrong was his responsibility - a rare thing nowadays.

 

[Matt Taylor]

Andrew Haines had five years at SWT during which the company went from being one of the worst operators to being 'Passenger Operator Of the Year' in 2005, he oversaw the introduction of new ticketing systems throughout the business, a completely updated passenger information system, the timetable recast in 2004 and of course the introduction of the Desiro stock which saw the end of the slam doors.

 

[fgwrich]

Over-rated in my view - too full of his own self importance and operational performance at GNER was very, very average. I always got the impression it was about appearances rather than getting the railway running correctly.

Really poor MDs in my view were Alison Forster at FGW and Alan Wilson at Midland Mainline, both of who presided over appalling deterioration in service.

On the flip side Mark Hopwood has done a decent job with FGW/GWR, David Horne likewise with EMT and VTEC and Tim Shoveller when he was with both EMT and SWT got those companies performing well.

There is of course plenty that we don't see as they are running a business so have full responsibility for everything that goes on, including health & safety, people and financial performance, as well as all the things we do see like operational performance.

Andrew Haines had five years at SWT during which the company went from being one of the worst operators to being 'Passenger Operator Of the Year' in 2005, he oversaw the introduction of new ticketing systems throughout the business, a completely updated passenger information system, the timetable recast in 2004 and of course the introduction of the Desiro stock which saw the end of the slam doors.

Two of the top 4 I would pick there. Andrew Haines & Mark Hopwood really led the revolution in turning FGW around from one of the most complained about and hated TOCs of the 21st centaury to one if not the best out there. It's a shame Andrew Haines left the rail industry after his transformation of FGW, but at least his appointment of Mark Hopwood has done a sterling job since. I've also had the pleasure to meet both TOC managers and both have been very pleasant to talk to.

Andy Cooper got some stick at Anglia Railways when Supersavers were withdrawn.

Is this the same Andy Cooper now of XC Fame I'm thinking of? Not the most helpful when I've written to him in the past.

If I had to compile a bottom 3, Alison Forster & her team in the early days of FGW, Charles Horton and Charles Horton.

 

[ANorthernGuard]

As a member of staff I see a good MD that actually treats their staff with respect. Yes we know there will always be decisions that Staff will not like but there are ways andmeans of doing things. Heidi brought in family fun days for Northerns staff which were popular and she attended and helped out as soon as she left Ian Bevan took over and I have never seen staff relations nosedive so fast. He seemed to have no idea how to treat staff was not approachable and came across as someone as a bean counter. When Alex Hynes took over it took a while but morale slowly improved yes he is good with social media etc. but he is also approachable and if an issue is raised through our employee page and he sees it he makes sure the person in charge of that area knows and gets it sorted. He has also been on record stating he does not agree with DOO now how this being in the franchise agreement and his position as MD pans out who knows. But there are certainly worse MD's