Long-distance rail operator CrossCountry has announced the appointment of four new regional directors.
Managing director Tom Joyner explained: “CrossCountry is changing and these regional directors will enable us to be more effective in the region. Their arrival also ties in with the political changes coming our way, namely greater local involvement in shaping services.
“By empowering regional directors with decision-making abilities, it enables us to operate more effectively which is a win-win for our people and importantly our customers.”
The four new regional directors are all experienced in passenger train operations and also know their new regions well.
John Robson brings nearly 30 years’ rail experience with him as he takes responsibility for the operational and financial performance of the West Midlands and North West region.
He has held numerous operational roles for West Midlands Trains and Virgin Trains as well as delivering successful projects in rail consultancies.
Richard Morris, an engineering graduate from the University of Loughborough, has almost 20 years’ experience in managing fleet and engineering teams, both at train operator level and for train manufacturers such as Siemens.
Most recently, he has been Interim Service Delivery Director at CrossCountry, leading on Fleet, Engineering and Driver Management. He takes on the East Midlands and East Anglia region.
Sarah Kelley has over 20 years’ operational and strategic experience both at Network Rail and train operator level. In recent years, she has headed up operations at Arriva Rail London and since October 2019, held the position of planning performance director at CrossCountry.
She already has extensive knowledge of the western route, having worked in senior positions at First Great Western, and she will also spearhead CrossCountry’s plans to improve services into Wales in the coming years.
Anna Weeks, who started as a graduate at First Group, has significant experience in bus and rail, having worked for First Glasgow, ScotRail and latterly Northern, where she was Regional Director.
She will be responsible for the CrossCountry operations in the North East and Scotland, helping to instigate change to benefit the customer. In Scotland, she will work closely with industry colleagues to position CrossCountry as a major player in the country.
Tom Joyner added: “Anna has an impressive skill-set at her disposal which will benefit us greatly. The north is an important region for us, and Anna will play a pivotal role in delivering positive changes for our customers as well as managing relationships with important stakeholders across Yorkshire and the North East.
“The regional directors will enable us to be more effective in the regions, reflecting a wider trend for more localised decision making.
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