VIRGIN TRAINS EAST COAST COMPLETES SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM

Newly-launched train operator Virgin Trains East Coast today completes its senior management team with the appointment of Alison Watson as its new Customer Experience Director.

Alison joins the train operator next month following a successful career in the travel and aviation industries, and sees her appointment as a reflection of the synergies between the air and rail markets.

The appointment completes the senior management team at Virgin Trains East Coast, which began operating train services and managing stations on the line between London King’s Cross and Edinburgh Waverley on Sunday 1 March.

It follows last week’s confirmation of the appointment of former Virgin Trains West Coast Marketing Director Danny Gonzalez as Virgin Trains East Coast’s Marketing & Sales Director.

Alison said: “I’m very excited about joining the Virgin Trains East Coast team, and am looking forward to making a positive difference to this new venture which brings together the management expertise of Stagecoach and the internationally successful Virgin brand.

“My priorities will include formulating a long-term customer strategy, and to play an important role in delivering an improved customer experience, through innovation and investment in our people.

“The new Virgin Trains East Coast operation is a huge opportunity to exceed customers’ expectations and be a part of the team which will make the company the number one leader on the UK’s rail network.”

Alison, from Chadderton near Oldham, Greater Manchester, joins Virgin Trains East Coast on Tuesday 7 April 2015.

Danny Gonzalez started his career at Virgin Atlantic over twenty years ago and has progressed through the Virgin Family ever since.  During that time he has also held positions at Virgin.com, TheTrainline, and most recently as Marketing Director at Virgin Trains’ existing West Coast business.  During his time at Virgin Trains he has worked on two bids including East Coast, and led on successful Brand and Marketing redevelopment programmes for the West Coast business.

Danny said: “I'm incredibly excited at the challenge and opportunity of merging the successful East Coast business with Virgin Trains’ customer-focused brand and culture to create an experience that can lead the way in UK travel.”

David Horne, Managing Director of Virgin Trains East Coast, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Alison and Danny to our team, and I’m confident that with our senior management line-up now complete, we’re in the very best possible place to transform our customer service and become the UK’s number one train operator.

“Our passengers are already set to benefit from hundreds of millions of pounds’ worth of infrastructure investment and service improvements over the next decade. We now have a first rate team in place and are ready to listen to our customers as we deliver thousands of extra seats, faster journeys, new trains, better value fares and investment in our people.”

The complete senior team at Virgin Trains East Coast is:

o Managing Director – David Horne
o Finance Director – Richard Bodicoat
o Commercial Director – Andy Sparkes
o People Director – Clare Burles
o Engineering Director – Jack Commandeur
o Major Projects Director – Tim Hedley-Jones
o Safety & Operations Director – Warrick Dent
o Marketing & Sales Director – Danny Gonzalez
o Customer Experience Director – Alison Watson

Over £140 million will be invested in the new franchise delivering major improvements for customers. Stagecoach and Virgin have exciting plans to transform the on-train experience and deliver a more personalised service, with at-seat food ordering from the buffet car and hot food available to passengers in Standard Class. Passengers will also benefit from new trains, an improved timetable with faster journeys and better connections, more services to new destinations, better value fares, new technology and a range of station and accessibility enhancements.

ENDS