Serco and Abellio appoint new Managing Director for Merseyrail

Jan Chaudhry has been appointed the new Managing Director for Merseyrail by joint venture shareholders, Serco and Abellio UK. Currently the Deputy MD at Abellio UK, Jan will take up the new post in July 2015.

Jan said: "I am delighted that Abellio and Serco have given me the opportunity to lead Merseyrail and take the organisation to the next level. I am inheriting a great team, and am confident that together we will build on our contribution to the regional economy and communities within the Liverpool city region. Having been a member of the Merseyrail board for the last three years, I am well aware of what the business has already accomplished and look forward to achieving even more for our customers in future."

David Stretch, Managing Director of Serco Transport, commented: "Jan's appointment is great news for Merseyrail, which over the past few years, has frequently been rated one of the best performing rail operators in the country. This is a fantastic achievement, although we are not in any way complacent, and our challenge is to make sure that the service we provide for our customers continues to improve."

David Brown, chief executive of Merseytravel, which lets and manages the Merseyrail concession commented: "Merseyrail is a high performing network and has the accolades to show for it. We look forward to working with Jan on building on this success, growing passenger numbers and further enhancing the customer experience. The growth and development of the Merseyrail network is a key element of our long term rail strategy to support the growth of the Liverpool city region economy. As a Merseyrail board member, he already shares in this vision and ambition."

Dominic Booth, Abellio UK MD, added: "Jan has held several positions at Abellio UK and is a trusted colleague. From the outset, we were clear that Merseyrail needed a high calibre MD, and his skills and experience bear this out. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Alan Chaplin for holding the fort since the beginning of the year."

Jan brings with him 25 years of rail industry experience, having held a number of directorships within several train operating companies. Most recently for Abellio UK, he led on fleet and operations and played a senior role in Abellio's successful bid for the ScotRail franchise. He represents Abellio UK on the rail industry's National Task Force and Planning Oversight Group. He also takes the lead on rail policy for track access, alliancing, periodic review and other regulatory matters. As a current board member of Merseyrail, Jan will have a head start when he begins in a few months.

Alan Chaplin, who has been the interim Managing Director since January 2015, will return to his permanent position of Service Delivery Director and Deputy MD at Northern Rail this summer.

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