Hitachi Rail Europe has announced a major management reshuffle, as focus shifts to delivering the Intercity Express Programme (IEP).
Hitachi has said that the changes will ‘strengthen’ the company’s leadership to meet the challenges of the £4.5 billion IEP project, which was approved by the Department for Transport (DfT) in July.
Alistair Dormer has taken over as executive chairman and chief executive officer of Hitachi Rail Europe, with former chairman Chiaki Ueda retiring after 40 years with the company.
Chiaki Ueda spent six years in the UK, leading the growth of the company following the Class 395 contract win.
During his tenure, the company introduced the UK’s first domestic high-speed train, established a state-of-the-art maintenance facility in Ashford, Kent, and was awarded the contract to build and maintain 596 vehicles for the UK’s Intercity Express Programme.
With the close of contract of the Intercity Express Programme, we reached a major milestone and will now concentrate on delivering the programme in the same way we delivered the Class 395 – on time and to budget.
Alistair Dormer, who was seconded to lead Agility Trains, the Hitachi-led consortium responsible for delivering IEP, said: “With the close of contract of the Intercity Express Programme, we reached a major milestone and will now concentrate on delivering the programme in the same way we delivered the Class 395 – on time and to budget.
“We have ambitious growth targets for Hitachi Rail Europe in the UK and in continental Europe and the new leadership team will be fully focused on delivering these with the help of our highly committed colleagues.”
Keith Jordan will continue his role as managing director of Hitachi Rail Europe, with responsibility for the overall operational leadership. Hirofumi Ojima has been appointed chief strategy officer of Hitachi Rail Europe, with Koji Agatsuma retaining his role as head of technical.
Andy Barr has been appointed senior vice president and head of projects, operations and maintenance.
Russell Hargrave has joined Hitachi Rail Europe as head of maintenance with overall responsibility for the provision of maintenance and support services for the Class 395 trains at the company’s Ashford Maintenance Depot.
In addition, Ross Cunningham has joined Hitachi Rail Europe as depot delivery manager. He has overall responsibility for the development, construction and delivery of the new train depots for the Intercity Express Programme.
Jamie Foster and Darren Cumner have joined the company as procurement director and manufacturing plant manager respectively.
