Managing Director - Patrick Verwer
Patrick joined Go-Ahead in December 2007 as Managing Director of aviance. He was then appointed Managing Director of Rail Development in December 2010. Previously, he spent more than 10 years with Netherlands Railways in various executive roles. Patrick came to the UK in 2002 to head up the Serco/NedRailways Merseyrail concession in Liverpool. He started his working career as a senior police officer in Rotterdam.
Operations & Safety Director - Wallace Weatherill
Wallace has worked in the railway industry since 1987, having started as a trainee at Watford. He progressed through front-line traincrew roles at Bletchley and became a Trains Inspector in 1992. He then worked for Intercity and Great Western Trains and latterly with Railtrack and Network Rail. Most recently Wallace was the Head of Operations and Planning and then acting Director of Operations and Safety at Southeastern.
Finance & Contracts Director - Wilma Allan
Following her graduation from Aberdeen University, Wilma began her career with 7 years in the oil and gas exploration industry in Aberdeen and London. She then moved to England and spent time with UK Nirex, before moving to Volvo Cars UK. Her rail industry career started in 1998 with First Group as Finance Director for First Great Eastern before moving onto First Great Western. She joined Go-Ahead initially on project work before becoming Finance and Commercial Director of Thames Trains, then Thameslink and is currently Finance and Contracts Director for two of the three Go-Ahead Group rail companies: Southeastern and London Midland.
Acting Commercial Director - Richard Brooks
Richard joined the railway industry in 1979 and his early career was spent in the East Midlands in a number of front line retail positions before spending time as a trainer within the industry Quality Through People initiative. Joining Regional Railways in 1992 he held a number of managerial positions including Internal Communications and Customer Relations before rejoining the station management team and undertaking a number of front line route management roles. Richard became Head of Station Services at the start of the London Midland franchise in 2007.
Programme Director - Mike Haigh
Mike joined the rail industry in 1980 as a British Rail management trainee. His career has included spells as a Rolling Stock Manager and Account Manager for Centro and Central Trains. He was appointed Commercial Director for Central Trains in 2001 and was later its Deputy Managing Director. He took up his post with London Midland at the start of the franchise in November 2007.
Human Resources Director - Geraldine Goddard
Geraldine joined London Midland in March 2008; prior to this she worked at PepsiCo International UK and Ireland where she was Organisational Capability Director. Geraldine has a wealth of experience in senior HR and organisational development roles in the food and drinks industries.
Engineering Director - Neil Bamford
Neil is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer by training, having begun his career as a British Railways Technician Trainee. His roles have encompassed the manufacture, supply and end user aspects of the rail industry, involving train design, project management, commercial management and technical investigations. Neil joins us from CrossCountry Trains where he was Head of Fleet and Engineering.
