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First Great Western management team
As at 3rd December 2024 14:49 GMT
 
Re: Great Western management team
Posted by grahame at 21:58, 31st January 2024
 
Hasn't a woman very recently taken over Richard Rowland's Customer Services bit? To allow him to major on being Deputy MD & Operations Director.

You're ahead of yourself - not until next month

Great Western Railway (GWR) has announced the appointment of Rachel Geliamassi to the new role of Customer Services Director. 

Rachel will be responsible for leading the customer services teams across its stations and trains and ensuring GWR continues to provide the highest level of customer service to its passengers.
The addition of this new role will allow Operations Director Richard Rowland greater focus on operational delivery, particularly with regard to Old Oak Common and HS2 changes, as well as a stronger focus in his role as deputy managing director. 

Rachel will join GWR next month, formally taking up her role in March.

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by ChrisB at 20:50, 31st January 2024
 
Hasn't a woman very recently taken over Richard Rowland's Customer Services bit? To allow him to major on being Deputy MD & Operations Director.

Great Western management team
Posted by grahame at 20:21, 31st January 2024
 
A LONG time since this thread was updated - so from https://www.gwr.com/about-gwr/our-business/executive-team :

Mark Hopwood – Managing Director
Richard Rowland – Customer Service and Operations Director
Ruth Busby – HR Director
Joe Graham – Business Assurance Director
Duncan Rimmer – Finance Director
Amanda Burns – Sales & Marketing Director
Daryn McCombe – Train Service Delivery and Performance Director
Simon Green – Engineering Director
Chris Maxwell – Director of Safety and Environment


Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by ChrisB at 08:53, 31st May 2018
 
As announced by the Stock Exchange at 0700 this morning

http://www.londonstockexchange.com/exchange/news/market-news/market-news-detail/FGP/13660797.html

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by Western Pathfinder at 08:16, 31st May 2018
 
Waking up this thread a bit.
Over on Twitter Paul Clifton from BBC South has posted this morning that Mr Tim O'Toole is to step down from his position as C/E of First Group with immediate effect
https://mobile.twitter.com/PaulCliftonBBC.

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by JayMac at 23:58, 27th August 2015
 
Turns out it was someone else (possibly more than one) high up at FGW who is/are off to pastures new...

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 23:01, 27th August 2015
 
My garden could really do with me having some gardening leave but ...

My sympathies, Ben: I've taken the past week off work as annual leave, to 'do some gardening, etc' ... but it's been pouring with rain 

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by TaplowGreen at 10:22, 25th August 2015
 
Glad also that the rumour I read on another forum was unfounded. I was clear here to say rumour only.

I've put them straight at the other place. 

whoops!.......just goes to show......you never know who's reading! "Loose lips sink ships!" 

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by JayMac at 07:08, 25th August 2015
 
Glad also that the rumour I read on another forum was unfounded. I was clear here to say rumour only.

I've put them straight at the other place. 

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by bobm at 23:44, 24th August 2015
 
Pleased to hear you are still "on-board" and glad you've had the opportunity to put the record straight.

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by BenRule at 23:39, 24th August 2015
 
Reading elsewhere that Ben Rule has been given 'gardening leave'. No independent verification and I post as rumour only.

Gardening leave normally precedes a move to a competitor.

Only just spotted this. It made me laugh. You have been the victim of the rumour mill. My garden could really do with me having some gardening leave but I'm still hard at work. In fact I didn't even get any time off this Sunday!

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by JayMac at 22:35, 11th August 2015
 
Reading elsewhere that Ben Rule has been given 'gardening leave'. No independent verification and I post as rumour only.

Gardening leave normally precedes a move to a competitor.

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by ChrisB at 09:43, 6th January 2015
 
Of course he doesn't - it'd be a pretty much a full-time job doing so.

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by thornebt at 09:37, 6th January 2015
 
Mark Hopwood....he reads everything addressed to him

He might read his emails but he doesn't reply to any of mine!  I once had a reply from his email address but signed off by Nicole Black of Customer Relations.  She said she would get back to me asap but never has.

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by chrisr_75 at 13:14, 28th June 2013
 
Excellent! Is he based in the Swindon offices? And as for email addresses am I correct in saying that they are formatted <firstname>.<lastname>@firstgroup.com ?

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by ChrisB at 13:03, 28th June 2013
 
Mark Hopwood....he reads everything addressed to him

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by chrisr_75 at 13:00, 28th June 2013
 
Interesting...who would therefore be the best addressee (ie, the most likely to provide a considered response) for a complaint following a number of particularly disagreeable experiences on Paddington to South Wales services?

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by the void at 12:52, 28th June 2013
 
There is no Director of Customer Services. It was decided a number of years ago to make 'customer services' the responsibilty of all directorates. The reasoning being that having a specific directorate meant that anyone working under another directorate could argue that customer services wasn't their responsibility, when actually it is everyones.

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by chrisr_75 at 12:37, 28th June 2013
 
Afternoon folks,

Can anyone help me with a name and postal address and/or email address for the current FGW customer services director? They don't appear to make that persons details readily available on the website for some reason...

Please feel free to pm me if it's info that can't be shared in the public domain,

Thanks!

Re: Ben Rule replaces Kevin Gale
Posted by Cornish Traveller at 19:57, 18th May 2013
 
e He was regarded as a complete *&$$ at NXEA ........ good luck ! (hope he don`t rub up FGW train crew the wrong way)

Re: Ben Rule replaces Kevin Gale
Posted by thetrout at 22:56, 16th May 2013
 
through to becoming Deputy Operations Director at National Express East Anglia.

We're doomed.............

Re: Ben Rule replaces Kevin Gale
Posted by The SprinterMeister at 14:19, 16th May 2013
 
As an outsider -
More recently Ben has been leading the strategic input for Operations as part of the
National Express rail franchise bid team
.
Take out key players from the opposition?

Not sure how correct the information is but I am told that Kevin Gale is now fairly high up in the National Express coach business.

Having just had a quick look at LinkedIn, it seems he is now operations director at National Express.

Re: Ben Rule replaces Kevin Gale
Posted by JayMac at 19:22, 12th April 2013
 
That National Express Rail Franchise Bid Team was headed up by Elaine Holt who has also moved on to pastures new, or should that be nouveaux p^turages?

I wonder if National Express are giving up on UK Rail, or have just decided not to bother with a franchise bid team now that it's known that there are no franchises to bid on for a couple of years. Except the East Coast franchise of course, but it would take some serious chutzpah for National Express to bid for that one!

Re: Ben Rule replaces Kevin Gale
Posted by GBM at 17:07, 12th April 2013
 
As an outsider -
More recently Ben has been leading the strategic input for Operations as part of the
National Express rail franchise bid team
.
Take out key players from the opposition?

Ben Rule replaces Kevin Gale
Posted by ChrisB at 11:14, 12th April 2013
 
From FastLine....

Ben Rule to join First Great Western as Operations Director

I am delighted to be able to tell you that Ben Rule will be joining First Great Western
as Operations Director. A start date will be confirmed soon.

Ben has more than 15 years experience in the railway industry ranging from
signalling, operations and project roles at Network Rail, being an Inspector at the
Rail Accident Investigation Branch through to becoming Deputy Operations Director
at National Express East Anglia. As Deputy Operations Director he was initially
responsible for the management of performance, train planning and Control before
taking responsibility for traincrew.

More recently Ben has been leading the strategic input for Operations as part of the
National Express rail franchise bid team.

I am sure you will all want to join me in welcoming him to the First Great Western
team. Ben^s knowledge and understanding of the railway industry, in particular in
relation to day-to-day operations and performance and how that impacts our
customers, will be invaluable in tackling the customer service, infrastructure and
project challenges we face as a company.

Andy Mellors
Deputy Managing Director
and Engineering Director

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by ChrisB at 10:40, 6th March 2013
 
I guesss the post will go on First's jobs site?....:-)

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by JayMac at 10:29, 6th March 2013
 
Where do I send my CV? 

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by ChrisB at 09:54, 6th March 2013
 
No - did confirm that the post will be advertised though.

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by Oxman at 18:51, 5th March 2013
 
Chris, did the Fastline mention a replacement?

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 18:39, 5th March 2013
 
Thanks for that update, ChrisB: I've taken the opportunity to merge three topics here, purely in the interests of continuity and ease of future reference. 

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by ChrisB at 12:22, 5th March 2013
 
Staff Nerwsletter - FastLine

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by bobm at 12:07, 5th March 2013
 
Can we ask where this confirmation has come from?

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by ChrisB at 11:57, 5th March 2013
 
Confirmation today that Kevin Gale has left FGW

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by brizzlechris at 09:49, 6th February 2013
 
It would appear that there are 8 people in these senior positions
http://www.joinusonthejourney.co.uk/NonCmsPages/our_structure_mark.htm

That list is severely out of date. James Burt left FGW in September 2009. Neil Mickelthwaite left in 2010 and Matthew Golton is now apparently back as Bid Director rather than Projects Director, at least according to his LinkedIn profile.

However the two people most likely to hold the 'safety case' are still in position.

The current list of directors can be seen here:

http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/About-Us/Our-business/Our-executive-team

And even the list I found may be out of date. 

The previous issue of RAIL magazine (714) reports that FGW Operations Director, Kevin Gale, has been placed on 'gardening leave'. It doesn't expand further as to reasons. Just a three sentence article toward the back of RAIL that I missed on first reading, but one that may be of some significance.

Purely supposition on my part, but I wonder if he is jumping ship to another TOC or has been head-hunted by DOR? 'Gardening/Garden leave' is a euphemism most often used when a company requires an employee to see out a period of notice, but neither wants them to continue doing their current job or to immediately start work in their new job. Especially if they are leaving to join a competitor....
This is Wiltshire had this report at the beginning of the year...

http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/news/10142619.Has_rail_boss_lost_job_over_the_travel_chaos_/

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by JayMac at 02:45, 6th February 2013
 
It would appear that there are 8 people in these senior positions
http://www.joinusonthejourney.co.uk/NonCmsPages/our_structure_mark.htm

That list is severely out of date. James Burt left FGW in September 2009. Neil Mickelthwaite left in 2010 and Matthew Golton is now apparently back as Bid Director rather than Projects Director, at least according to his LinkedIn profile.

However the two people most likely to hold the 'safety case' are still in position.

The current list of directors can be seen here:

http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/About-Us/Our-business/Our-executive-team

And even the list I found may be out of date. 

The previous issue of RAIL magazine (714) reports that FGW Operations Director, Kevin Gale, has been placed on 'gardening leave'. It doesn't expand further as to reasons. Just a three sentence article toward the back of RAIL that I missed on first reading, but one that may be of some significance.

Purely supposition on my part, but I wonder if he is jumping ship to another TOC or has been head-hunted by DOR? 'Gardening/Garden leave' is a euphemism most often used when a company requires an employee to see out a period of notice, but neither wants them to continue doing their current job or to immediately start work in their new job. Especially if they are leaving to join a competitor....

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by JayMac at 18:11, 10th January 2012
 
From FirstGroup's corporate website:

FirstGroup has appointed Richard Parry to its rail bid team. Richard joins FirstGroup from Transport for London (TfL) where he worked for 19 years in a range of senior roles, most recently as Deputy Managing Director and Director of Strategy and Commercial for TfL^s London Underground and Rail divisions. Richard has a outstanding record of leadership and delivery with a strong focus on customer service and considerable experience of engaging with a diverse range of stakeholders which will be invaluable in his new role heading the Group's bid for the InterCity West Coast franchise.

Commenting on the appointment Vernon Barker, Managing Director UK Rail, said:

"I am delighted to have attracted someone of Richard's talent and calibre to the Group. The wealth of experience that he brings will be invaluable as we seek to build on our market leadership position in rail and progress the opportunities created by the Department for Transport^s new franchising programme."

Commenting, Richard Parry said:

"As the UK's largest rail operator FirstGroup has unrivalled experience of operating different types of franchises. I am very pleased to be joining the team and look forward to leading the Group's bid for the InterCity West Coast franchise."

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by Ollie at 13:28, 31st March 2011
 
So, having gone from removing one layer of management (the old Area Managers), they hasve now managed to ADD a layer (the General Managers) - am I right?
Sort of, except there is now no head of stations role. So the General Manager is in charge of there own area.
In all honesty I've not actually met my general manager, so no idea how involved they get.

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by JayMac at 13:23, 31st March 2011
 
Thank you for that comprehensive explanation, the void, and a very warm welcome to the Coffee Shop forum.  

I asked Glyn Beck the other day what role Mike Holmes now had and he said he was an Area Manager! Retail Manager seems an odd choice of name.

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 13:22, 31st March 2011
 
Thanks for that very useful explanation, the void - and welcome to the Coffee Shop forum! 

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by ChrisB at 13:18, 31st March 2011
 
So, having gone from removing one layer of management (the old Area Managers), they hasve now managed to ADD a layer (the General Managers) - am I right?

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by the void at 13:10, 31st March 2011
 
Ok, so here's how it works...

Previously there was a Head of Sations, with three Area Managers (West, Central & East) reporting directly to him, with the Stations Managers reporting to their relevant Area Manager. In an ill-advised re-org, the Area Managers were removed and the Station Managers all reported directly to the Head of Stations. The Head of Stations suddenly realised he had 18 direct reports, rather than the previous three and that it simply wasn't workable, so some Station Managers were rebranded 'Senior Station Managers' simply to reduce the number of direct reports to the Head of Stations. But this caused more problems as the egos of the 'Senior' managers were inflated into believing they were 'Area Managers' but they weren't. Time for another re-org...
This time it was the Head of Stations position that was removed. Three new General Managers were created for each region - David Crome in the West, Steve Tyler in Central and Claire Mann in the East. The General Managers are responsible for everything in their region and reporting to them are the new area managers for stations, guards, drivers etc. The station area managers are known as Retail Managers, but they are essentially the same as the old station Area Managers. The three regional Retail Managers are - Lee Edworthy in the West, Mike Holmes in Central and Sean McBroom in the East. They are resonsible for all things station within their region and the Station Managers report to them. The current Station Manager at Temple Meads (and outstations) is Glyn Beck. Glyn reports to Mike, who reports to Steve. Simples.

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by ChrisB at 16:41, 18th March 2011
 
At PAD for example we now have a General Manager (a woman called claire), then a regional manager east (shaun mcbroom)

Sean McBroom who was SM at Reading (he's still on the posters there) & Claire Mann.

I suspect the same will be true of central, west and north.

Correct, except there isn't any North. Just East, Central & West.

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by JayMac at 07:29, 10th December 2010
 
No he's not
Care to tell us what he is then? 

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by SDS at 22:23, 9th December 2010
 
The managerial structure has been changed yet again in FGW land.

At PAD for example we now have a General Manager (a woman called claire), then a regional manager east (shaun mcbroom) and some other side managers who I dont know yet.

I suspect the same will be true of central, west and north.

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by railwayfan at 20:09, 9th December 2010
 
No he's not

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by Ollie at 03:07, 9th December 2010
 
Yeah he's regional manager for central or something.

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by SDS at 21:39, 8th December 2010
 
Makes it sound like a punishment. "... sent back to Temple Meads" 

Ok let me re-word. He's been re-assigned to his previous location of Temple Meads!!!!

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by JayMac at 17:50, 8th December 2010
 
Makes it sound like a punishment. "... sent back to Temple Meads" 

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by SDS at 17:47, 8th December 2010
 
Yep he has left PAD and we now have the station manager from RDG (shaun Mcsomthing) as regional manager - east.
Ive also heard hes been sent back to Temple Meads.

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by JayMac at 17:08, 8th December 2010
 
Mike Holmes, formerly Station Manager at Temple Meads and more recently Station Manager at Paddington, is, according to things I've heard from FGW staff, back in the west.

Anyone out there know what his new role is?

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by JayMac at 22:26, 18th August 2009
 
No connections with Burt's Crisps by any chance?

Royalty please......made that joke on another thread some time ago 

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by Timmer at 21:54, 18th August 2009
 
No connections with Burt's Crisps by any chance?

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by vacman at 21:39, 18th August 2009
 
Wow.....wonder what prompted that move? He's only been at FGW for 18 months. Bailing out before having to deal in depth with the coming fall-out from the Sept. fares rises perhaps? I had some personal correspondence with James Burt, who called me personally after a particularly disagreeable experience on a Pullman service. He seemed like he genuinely cared about Customer Service. Following so soon after Anrew Haines departure I worry about the future.
To lose one quality director is unfortune, two is careless.....
He is also very ruthless.......... enough said me thinks

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by devon_metro at 20:56, 14th August 2009
 
Probably gone to Southern to try and reduce costs, lots of large premiums coming up!

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by JayMac at 20:50, 14th August 2009
 
Wow.....wonder what prompted that move? He's only been at FGW for 18 months. Bailing out before having to deal in depth with the coming fall-out from the Sept. fares rises perhaps? I had some personal correspondence with James Burt, who called me personally after a particularly disagreeable experience on a Pullman service. He seemed like he genuinely cared about Customer Service. Following so soon after Anrew Haines departure I worry about the future.
To lose one quality director is unfortune, two is careless.....

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 19:41, 14th August 2009
 
From TransportXtra:

James Burt has been appointed as Southern's new role of service delivery director, a role which he will join in September from First Great Western, where he is currently the customer service director.

^This is a great time to be joining the successful team at Southern, with a new franchise and in a newly created role," said Burt.

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by paul7575 at 23:45, 30th June 2009
 
Just a short piece about how FGW's performance has been changed:
http://www.railpro.co.uk/issues/pdfs/july09_fgw.pdf

Paul

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by willc at 01:34, 4th December 2008

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by 12hoursunday at 00:38, 4th December 2008
 
New M.D  Letter to staff on Wednesday announces Andrew Haines to leave the Company.

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by vacman at 22:24, 23rd February 2008
 
Don't get me started on those busybodies again!!

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by devon_metro at 22:22, 23rd February 2008
 
Doh.

Typical Shortsightedness from MTLTA!

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by Lee at 22:07, 23rd February 2008
 
Quote from Tony Ambrose (MTLS, article link below) :
http://thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=145365&command=displayContent&sourceNode=145191&contentPK=19962582&folderPk=83726&pNodeId=144922

: Tony Ambrose
"Painting stations and appointing new directors does not address the real problems.

"The only solution to improving the problems is to substantially invest in new rolling stock."

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by Lee at 09:07, 23rd February 2008
 
Economy Klaus "analyses" Sheridan Flavin's appointment (link below.)
http://firstlatewestern.blogspot.com/2008/02/all-in-sheridans-mind.html

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by Ollie at 01:55, 22nd February 2008
 
I've copied the press release into blog:

http://www.iworkforfgw.com/blog/#2202080145

Thought it might be of interest to some.

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by Timmer at 20:59, 31st October 2007
 
More on the new management structure from Insider:

http://indefenceoffirstgreatwestern.blogspot.com/

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by Timmer at 17:35, 29th October 2007
 
The Bath Chronicle published an article on Friday that is a useful Whos Who at FGW since the management shake up:

http://www.thisisbath.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=180730&command=displayContent&sourceNode=227209&contentPK=18787888&folderPk=106757&pNodeId=227220

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by Timmer at 17:50, 19th October 2007
 
just what I needed to brighten up my friday afternoon another poem from Economy Klaus. Next summer I think FGW should hire him to read poems alongside the lady with pink hair. The passengers could do with a laugh.

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by Lee at 13:47, 19th October 2007
 
Glenda Lamont is off to the US of A  according to BBC Points West this evening. Bet she is well chuffed (no pun intended) with this move, how exciting for her. Get away from all those whinging people who expect a decent train service.

Also one of the boses of First Bristol/Bath buses is on his way out. My, First really are having a jolly good clear out down in these parts, long overdue.

Here is a poem by Economy Klaus , mourning Glenda Lamont's departure (link below.)
http://firstlatewestern.blogspot.com/2007/10/poem-to-celebrate-departure-of-glenda.html

Quote :

"^Stakeholder management and customer service^?
You were about as useful as Peter Purvis"

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by 12hoursunday at 11:30, 17th October 2007
 
Mark Hopwood is appointed to the position of Route Director High Speed Services.

As fotr Glenda Lamont she's still about I spoke to her ( only hello mind) last week!

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by Timmer at 07:24, 17th October 2007
 
James Burt is his name and he isnt a temporary anything. He has been appointed to post full time. He is leaving South West Trains to come and work for FGW. He is currently Operations Director at South West Trains and was previously Customer Services Director for South West Trains.
Being from SWT terrority, hopefully he will have plenty of knowledge of the chronic overcrowding problems that is occuring at weekends on the Cardiff-Portsmouth route.

An example which is all too common can be found on Save the Train:
http://www.savethetrain.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=4442.from1192513287;topicseen#msg8221

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by Ollie at 23:58, 16th October 2007
 
Where I said temporary I was referring to the person current filling his role until he joins us from SWT.

My bad wording, sorry.

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by Tickets Please at 23:14, 16th October 2007
 
James Burt is his name and he isnt a temporary anything. He has been appointed to post full time. He is leaving South West Trains to come and work for FGW. He is currently Operations Director at South West Trains and was previously Customer Services Director for South West Trains.




Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by Ollie at 21:36, 16th October 2007
 
Glenda has left already, she is due to start at First Group America in November.

At the moment FGW has a temporary Customer Services Director until we get our new one, can't remember the name, but he is currently in the role at South West Trains.

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by Timmer at 19:36, 16th October 2007
 
Glenda Lamont is off to the US of A  according to BBC Points West this evening. Bet she is well chuffed (no pun intended) with this move, how exciting for her. Get away from all those whinging people who expect a decent train service.

Also one of the boses of First Bristol/Bath buses is on his way out. My, First really are having a jolly good clear out down in these parts, long overdue.

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by Timmer at 18:07, 10th October 2007
 
I understand that it was John Curley who set up the hourly Cardiff - Portsmouth in the first place.
I remember it well, May 1988 when we said farewell to the 33s and Mk1 coaching stock with 155s taking over under the EXPRESS branding 'to compliment the existing IC network'. 155s lasted about 3-4 years before they were split to become 153s and 158s taking over the route. At the time it was real investment on the route. I think its long overdue for some new investment not just tarting up the existing 158s.

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by grahame at 08:06, 10th October 2007
 
Under the new arrangements at FGW, Andrew Haines is the Chief Operating Officer while maintaining responsibility for First's Rail Group as well "one busy man".

Three new roles / appointments - route directors who will "Champion routes / act as lightning conductors, anticipating and reacting to issues before they surface".

John Curley - West
Mike Carroll - London and Thames Valley
t.b.a. - High Speed Services

These roles are being initially filled by very senior people to establish the positions and see how they go; the initial appointments are not seen as long term. I understand that it was John Curley who set up the hourly Cardiff - Portsmouth in the first place.

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by 12hoursunday at 23:42, 12th September 2007
 
. Good to see Mike Carroll back at GW.

Never really left though. He was MD of FirstInfo which is the call centre at Plymouth.











The most interesting move by First is the taking FGW under its wing along with its other rail franchises. Previously FGW was the only franchise run independently of First central control which shows at last they are taking things going on down here seriously.




Senior Management have always had to Answer to the First head of rail. Not much change there then except two more senior managers to oversee the operation!

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by Lee at 16:05, 8th September 2007
 
Here is a further view on the shake - up (link below.)
http://ihatefirstgreatwestern.blogspot.com/2007/09/all-change-at-top.html

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by Rugrat at 12:27, 8th September 2007
 
Alison will be giving a presentation at the Passenger Focus meeting in the Bristol Marriott Royal Hotel on the afternoon of Tuesday, 11 September. See the agenda at http://www.passengerfocus.org.uk/news-and-publications/document-search/default.asp?keywords=&topic=&year=&type=592&sdocsearch.x=15&sdocsearch.y=4

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by martyjon at 04:15, 8th September 2007
 
Someones woken up at last :-

I broke the news of Mike Carroll's return to FGW in the post on July 20th as the link below shows.

http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=447.0

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by Timmer at 22:51, 7th September 2007
 
http://www.guardian.co.uk/transport/Story/0,,2164195,00.html

At last some big rail news on what has been a fairly quiet week.

Report in today's Guardian on quite a major reorganisation of management at FGW by Firstgroup. Long overdue in my opinion. Don't fret though as Alison still gets to play with her beloved HSTs but hands day to day control of the problem parts of the franchise namely ex-Thames and Wessex franchises to others to sort out. Good to see Mike Carroll back at GW. All goes to show that First were way to ambitious in thinking they could easily merge three franchises into one under one managing director. Wonder if the first thing to happen would be for Thames and Wessex operations to move out of Swindon? I doubt it but you never know.

The most interesting move by First is the taking FGW under its wing along with its other rail franchises. Previously FGW was the only franchise run independently of First central control which shows at last they are taking things going on down here seriously.

These are only the highlights. There are also changes on the Western region of Network rail so the article is well worth a read. Lets see if any of these changes make any difference to services in the coming months. May be one reason why we are still to see any draft timetables for December making an appearance.


Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by martyjon at 19:49, 20th July 2007
 
I have heard that Mike Carroll has returned or is returning to FGW as route director for the Thames Valley area.

For those who dont know who Mike Carroll is he was the MD of FGW before the present incumbent and her predessesor Chris Kitchen-Smith.



 

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by SusanW at 12:52, 25th February 2007
 
Another important bod is Moir Lockhead, head of FirstGroup, as you've mentioned before - if you copy him in on any complaints or communication with FGW it makes things speed up a little at FGW! For e-mail addresses they are all:

firstname.surname@firstgroup.com

but don't expect direct replies.

Susan

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by Jim at 15:56, 5th February 2007
 
. I pointed out to him that being put onto coaches because you can't even board the trains is rather more serious, but he claimed that sort of thing should now be over... so that's all right then?!
Duncan

Yes, I have been rather disapoiuinted to see the need to have TWO coaches on Stand-by at Trowbridge

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by Lee at 18:28, 2nd February 2007
 
Andrew Griffiths (should be added to the list above)

Good point , Duncan. Andrew Griffiths is Regional Manager of the First Great Western Severn & Solent area , for those who didnt know already.

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by duncanhames at 18:20, 2nd February 2007
 
I saw both Glenda Lamont and Andrew Griffiths at the Bradford on Avon 150th celebrations today.
She gave a short speech, promising re-furbished trains and a new waiting room with disabled access to the Bath-bound side of the station, she also remarked on how nice it was at this time to meet a crowd of smiling faces!
When I arrived, Andrew Griffiths (should be added to the list above) was being hand-bagged chastised by a Bradford lady for his 'glib' and 'dismissive' remarks on the BBC during the More Train Less Strain protest about how standing on trains is something people have to expect these days. I pointed out to him that being put onto coaches because you can't even board the trains is rather more serious, but he claimed that sort of thing should now be over... so that's all right then?!
Duncan

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by Lee at 12:53, 2nd February 2007
 
Here is a link with details of FirstGroup's board , which includes Dean Finch , who is Finance Director.
http://www.firstgroup.com/corpfirst/investor/board.php

Re: First Great Western management team
Posted by grahame at 11:16, 2nd February 2007
 
I've seen "Dean Finch" mentioned and copied on correspondence. Where does he fit in?

First Great Western management team
Posted by Lee at 18:29, 1st February 2007
 
Here they are (taken from the link below.)
http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Content.aspx?id=6

The team at First Great Western is led by:

Alison Forster - Managing Director
Glenda Lamont - Customer Services Director
Tom Stables - Commercial Director
Ben Caswell - Finance Director
Graham Boot-Handford - Engineering Director
Kevin Gale - Trains Director
Dawn Murphy - Interim Director of Human Resources
Richard Campbell - Interim Marketing Director
Sir Chay Blyth CBE BEM - Non Executive Chairman

 
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