Northern has confirmed the appointment of Warrick Dent as its new Chief Operating Officer, strengthening the operator’s senior leadership team at a pivotal point in its transformation programme.
Dent joins the UK’s second‑largest train operator from DfT Operator (DFTO), where he currently serves as Group Operations and Performance Director. He is due to take up his new post in May, succeeding Matt Rice, who will leave Northern to pursue a new opportunity outside the rail sector.
The appointment brings extensive operational and system‑level experience to Northern. Prior to joining DFTO, Dent was Safety & Operations Director at London North Eastern Railway (LNER), where he led frontline service delivery from 2018.
During his time at LNER, Dent oversaw several major industry milestones, including the operational introduction of the 65‑strong Azuma fleet, a key role in the East Coast Upgrade, and most recently the successful delivery of the December 2025 East Coast Main Line timetable.
Earlier in his career, Dent held a number of senior leadership roles at Network Rail, including Area Director for the North East, based in York, alongside positions in London and Swindon. He joined Virgin Trains East Coast in 2015 before transitioning into LNER following the operator’s move into public ownership in 2018.
Welcoming the appointment, Tricia Williams, Managing Director at Northern, said:
“Warrick brings an exceptional track record of delivering improved operational performance and leading complex change across the rail industry. His experience at both operator and system level will be invaluable as we continue to improve reliability, strengthen our day‑to‑day delivery and build a railway that works better for our customers.
“I’m delighted to welcome him to Northern and look forward to working closely with him as we continue our journey of improvement.”
From DFTO, Chief Executive Alex Hynes paid tribute to Dent’s contribution to the public ownership group:
“I am delighted for Warrick and wish him every success in his new role as Northern’s Chief Operating Officer.
Commenting on his move, Warrick Dent said:
“I cannot wait to get started at Northern and support the business at such an exciting time.
“I’m really looking forward to working with Tricia and the wider team. Northern is a brilliant operator and I’m really looking forward to joining them on their journey."
Dent lives in Collingham, West Yorkshire, with his wife and their teenage twin boys.
Northern operates 2,650 services a day to more than 500 stations across the North of England, carrying millions of passengers each year and playing a central role in regional connectivity and economic growth.
Image credit: Northern
