Mitchell to Head Rail Group

April 6th 2005

A railway man from First Group, Dr. Mike Mitchell, has been appointed as Director General of Railways at the Department for Transport.

Dr. Mitchell heads the Department’s new Rail Group, charged with setting the strategy and level of public expenditure for the country’s railways. Mitchell’s all-powerful Rail Group will be responsible for letting contracts for train franchises and for securing improved performance and value for money on the rail network.

The Director General will report direct to the Permanent Secretary and is a member of the Department’s Board. Mike was appointed following an open competition, successfully beating off outsiders much to the relief of rail chiefs and staff up and down the network. He has over 30 years experience in the transport sector working with British Rail and FirstGroup.

Mike worked for British Rail for 16 years. In 1986 he joined FirstGroup and started managing bus operations in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and later in northern England. In 1998 he took over as Director of FirstGroup’s UK Rail Division and in 2001 as Chief Operating Officer for all the company’s Rail and Bus operations in the UK.

Currently he is the company’s Business Development Director responsible for leading the Group’s expansion into European transport markets. Mike has a PhD from Aberdeen University and is 56 and married with 2 sons.

Alistair Darling, Secretary of State for Transport said: “I am very pleased that Mike will be taking up this key position. His appointment is another important step in implementing the Rail White Paper.”

Mike Mitchell said: “I am very excited to be taking up this post. It will be a challenge but I am confident that the Department, in partnership with the rail industry, will be able to drive up rail performance.”

The DfT also announced the following appointments: Director of Rail Projects: Graham Dalton
Director of Rail Strategy and Finance: Mark Lambirth
Director of Rail Service Delivery: Gary Backler
Head of Customer and Stakeholder Relations: Peter McCarthy
Head of Rail Procurement: Richard Horton

The post of Director of Technical Professional is still to be recruited.

George Muir, Director General of ATOC, welcomed the appointment, ‘This is very good news. Mike has more than 30 years experience of the railways. He is a vigorous manager and will bring great know-how to an important position at a crucial time for the railways. We also have considerable respect for the other senior appointments made today. On behalf of ATOC and all train operating companies, we wish Mike and his new team well and look forward to a very productive working relationship.’

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