Meet our Executive Committee

Mark Phillips, Chief Executive Officer

Mark was appointed Chief Executive Officer in 2016. He is a member of the Transport for London Board and a member of the Department for Transport’s Transport Research and Innovation Board.

After graduating with a B.A. (Hons) in Economics from the University of York, Mark joined British Rail, later joining the privatisation team. He worked for Railtrack as Head of Operational Planning and Engineering, for Network Rail as Regional Director Anglia, and Deputy Managing Director for London Eastern Railway (Anglia).

Mark is a Fellow of the Institute of Railway Operators and a Fellow of the Institute of Logistics and Transport.

Johnny Schute, Chief Operating Officer

Johnny joined RSSB in May 2018 as Chief Operating Officer and leads our Chief Operating Group. He was formerly the Deputy Chief Inspector of Railways and Deputy Director, Railway Safety at the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), having assumed the appointment in January 2017. He had responsibility for health and safety regulation of the mainline rail network, all operating companies (both train and freight), light rail, metros (including TfL) and heritage. Prior to this, he was Deputy Director, Policy, Strategy and Planning within the Rail Safety Directorate of ORR.

Before joining ORR in October 2015, he served for 34 years in the British Army as an infantry soldier, undertaking operational tours in Northern Ireland, Southern Arabia, the Balkans and Iraq. In his final appointment as Chief Environmental and Safety officer for the army—and responsible to the head of the army for all health and safety matters—he introduced a new safety management system derived from lessons learned from the Nimrod disaster (RSSB member report available). He was also closely involved in setting up the first defence safety regulator, the Defence Safety Authority. 

Johnny has an MBA from the Open University and a MSc in Design of Information Systems from Cranfield University. He was appointed OBE in Her Late Majesty The Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2005.

Hannah Kingsley, Chief Financial Officer

Hannah Kingsley was appointed Chief Financial Officer on 1 January 2022, joining from Network Rail where she was the Finance Director for Anglia Route.

After graduating from Liverpool University she worked as a small animal veterinary surgeon for three years, before retraining as a Chartered Accountant with Deloitte LLP in London, working across a mixed portfolio including investment property, hospitality and private trusts. After leaving Deloitte and following a short time working in industry,

Hannah took up her first role with Network Rail as part of the team delivering the Wessex Route/ SSWT Alliance, before progressing to Financial Controller within several business units. Hannah has also spent time working at the Rail Delivery Group, including the roles of Director of Commercial Service & Assurance and Head of Commercial Finance. 

Hannah holds a Batchelor of Veterinary Science (Distinction) and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants England & Wales.

Hannah is also a Board member, holding the post of Honorary Treasurer, for the Chartered Quality Institute.

Keith Hanlon-Smith, Chief People Officer

Keith joined RSSB as Head of HR in April 2017 with responsibility for the HR, Company Secretariat and Facilities teams. Keith heads up the team that is responsible for ensuring that RSSB’s people are able to provide the very best service to its members.

Keith has over 20 years’ experience in Human Resource Management gained in both the commercial and not-for-profit sectors. He was worked for the Carbon Trust, Norland Managed Services (now CBRE Global Workplace Solutions) and prior to that the media and retail sectors. 

Keith is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, a graduate of Brighton University and a business mentor for Teach a Man to Fish. 

Paul McLaughlin, Chief Commercial Officer

Paul joined RSSB in February 2018 from BESA, a trade association within the construction industry. As its Chief Executive he led the organisation to deliver value and benefit to members. Prior to this he was Managing Director at Scotty Brand and the first Chief Executive of Scotland Food & Drink. At the latter, an industry membership organisation, he developed sector-wide strategies focussed on commercial results. He lobbied and influenced government and established Scotland Food & Drink as the industry’s main leadership body.

Before joining Scotland Food & Drink, Paul worked at Mars and then The Coca-Cola Company, most recently as Commercialisation Director responsible for North West Europe.

Paul gained a first-class honours degree in Electronic Engineering from the University of Glasgow, and also holds a Diploma in Company Direction from Durham University Business School.

Paul is the Chair of The Hamptons Estate Company Ltd.

Joshua Fisher, Chief Information and Delivery Officer

Joshua was appointed Chief Information Officer for the Rail Safety Standards Board (RSSB) in 2020.

Joshua sets the strategic direction and delivery roadmap for the use of technology at RSSB. Driving improvements in rail safety, sustainable development and the delivery of rail standards through digitally-enabled services and ingenuity.

Joshua's passion is creating and leading high performing teams where individuals can contribute their best and address some of the biggest challenges through collaboration.

Before joining RSSB, Joshua worked at PA Consulting Group where he partnered with organisations across the transport and logistics sector to develop new digital tools and transformative capabilities.

Joshua gained a first-class honours degree in Information Technology from the University of Reading.