Northern has announced it has appointed Matt Rice as its new Chief Operating Officer. He will succeed Tricia Williams, who was announced as the company’s new managing director in August 2023. Williams will be replacing Nick Donovan, who will be leaving the company later this year.
Rice, currently a route director at Network Rail will assume his role at the train operator in the spring.
A graduate of Aberystwyth University, he joined Network Rail as a management trainee and has gone on to hold a diverse range of roles spanning the intricacies of the UK railway system.
He has held roles across the rail sector including a period in the Middle East and in the UK, before taking up his current role as the route director for the north and east route of Network Rail.
Tricia Williams, incoming managing director of Northern, said: “Matt has extensive knowledge of the UK rail network and a clear understanding of the size and scope of our operation.
“What also became clear during the recruitment process was his steadfast commitment to understanding and enhancing the colleague experience for the teams he has led, recognising its importance and impact on the quality of service delivered.”
Rice will have a busy inbox once he takes up the role. He will be tasked with improving the reliability of Northern’s services, which according to the latest figures, ran 50% on time..
Commenting on his appointment, Matt Rice said: “I am really looking forward to joining the team at Northern and working with Tricia and colleagues across the region to deliver for our customers.
“I have spent my career focused on making things better and I am committed to fostering a positive workplace culture for all and delivering great rail services for people across the North of England.”
Northern is the second largest train operator in the UK, with 2,500 services a day travelling to more than 500 stations across the North of England.
Photo Credit: Northern
