FASTLINE: Interim changes to GWR senior leadership team
GC
GWR Communications
Fri 29/11/2019
FASTLINE
Colleagues,
We have just shared a note from FirstGroup announcing a number of changes to its senior leadership team.
Those changes mean that from 6 January next year I am going to join our sister TOC South Western Railway on an interim basis, while they recruit a new Managing Director to replace Andy Mellors who is taking up a new role as Managing Director, Non-Franchised Businesses.
His role will oversee Hull Trains, Tram Operations Ltd, our new East Coast open access rail company which begins operating in late 2021, and the contact centre we are establishing in Sheffield to centralise a variety of customer service processes.
This is exciting news for Andy and I am pleased to be able to share my experience and lead the Executive team at SWR before handing over to the new MD when the recruitment concludes.
It means that Matthew Golton, Deputy MD, will take the role of Managing Director at GWR for the period that I am with SWR. We will make further announcements on the other back-fill roles in the Exec team shortly.
The changes don’t happen until January and as you’d expect, I’m keen to make sure we continue to focus on the work we still need to do to deliver the timetable changes in December and benefits for our customers. It is important that we don’t lose focus on the work that is still needed to ensure we are as ready as possible.
Matthew has been my deputy since 2017. He has a huge amount of experience, has led the negotiations for our existing franchise and has been instrumental in shaping the future of GWR so we realise the benefits of our transformation for our customers.
He has my full support and I know he will appreciate yours.
Mark Hopwood
Managing Director