15.06.17
TfN boss to take charge of Northern Rail from September
Transport for the North’s (TfN’s) chief executive David Brown will leave the organisation to join Arriva Rail North as its managing director in September, it has today been announced.
Brown, who has been at the organisation for over two years, building on more than 25 years of experience in the industry, has been a crucial cog in shaping the private and public sector of rail in the north.
And later this year, he will head up Northern’s 5,500 employees to deliver Arriva’s ambitious plans to modernise rail for passengers on its services. Brown will be replacing Alex Hynes at Northern, who has been appointed the MD for ScotRail Alliance.
“I’m thrilled to be joining Arriva at such an exciting time, with the opportunity to help transform the rail services of the north through the Northern Franchise,” said Brown.
“I am very much looking forward to leading the business and seeing that investment bear fruit through improved services, capacity and stations for passengers.”
Arriva CEO Manfred Rudhart said that Brown’s wealth of experience in the rail and transport sector, particularly in the north of England, made him perfectly placed to help the TOC achieve its vision of transforming travel services for passengers in the region.
“As we look to strengthen our role in developing the North of England’s transport infrastructure, David will be instrumental in not only fostering the development of Arriva employees but delivering value for our customers and the communities we serve,” he added.
Whilst at TfN, Brown oversaw the organisation’s multi-modal Integrated and Smart Travel programme, which has rapidly developed into a tangible entity and is on track to deliver substantial benefits to customers by modernising the way people plan and pay for their travel.
Another key project that Brown was at the heart of included the statutory transport plan, which was designed to drive transformational economic growth in the north by intelligently developing its transport infrastructure.
“David leaves TfN with our thanks and best wishes for the future,” said John Cridland, TfN chair. “He has been instrumental in developing TfN’s vision of a thriving North of England where modern transport connections drive economic growth and support an excellent quality of life.
“He leaves a strong organisation ready to become the UK’s first statutory body with a clear direction to drive economic growth in the North.”
TfN stated that it will commence recruitment for a new CEO shortly who is “willing to stretch the boundaries of what is expected to maximise on the north’s unique strengths and deliver the organisation’s vision”.
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