Meet the Board
The Board takes the lead in areas such as strategy and financial policy, and makes sure we maintain a sound system of internal control.
RSSB is responsible to its members and each member category has a right to representation on our Board. So, our Board of Directors includes our executive directors and non-executive directors from across the rail industry. To draw on the widest range of skills and expertise, we also have non-executive directors from outside our industry.
Mike Brown CBE MVO, Chair
Mike was appointed Chair of RSSB in June 2022.
Mike was Commissioner of Transport for London until 2020, responsible for safety, operations and capital investment across the capital’s transport networks (underground, bus, light rail, trams and main roads).
He is Chair of the Restoration & Renewal Delivery Authority for the Houses of Parliament, the programme established to ensure that the Palace of Westminster is fit for purpose for generations to come.
For Mott MacDonald he is an adviser and Independent Member of the Shareholder Committee and is on the Board of Translink, Northern Ireland’s transport authority. Mike is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport.
He is committed to the skills agenda, ensuring career opportunities for young people from all communities across the UK.
Mark Phillips, Executive Director
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.
Hannah Kingsley, Executive Director
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.
Claire Mann, Non-Executive Director (Passenger train operators)
Claire joined South Western Railway as Managing Director in March 2021 and has led its adaptation to the post-COVID ‘new normal’. She is focussed on further developing the leadership of the business and investing in its people to help deliver a better customer experience and a positive impact on the community it serves.
Claire started her railway career as a Customer Service Assistant at Heathrow Express, before becoming one of their first train drivers. She has over 20 years of transport sector experience including senior leadership roles such as General Manager, Customer Service Director, Projects Director and Operations and Safety Director roles within several train operating companies and Transport for London.
Claire is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport and she is also on the Board of Governors for the Chartered Institute of Railway Operators.
She grew up in Dorset and now lives with her husband and daughter in South West London.
David Horne, Non-Executive Director (Passenger train operators)
David Horne has been Managing Director of LNER since its inception in June 2018.
He has held senior positions with several train operating companies including Managing Director of East Midlands Trains from 2011 to 2015, and Virgin Trains East Coast from 2015 to 2018. In his time at East Midlands Trains, he was responsible for delivering the UK's most punctual long-distance services over a five-year period. Under his leadership the company won Passenger Operator of the Year in 2014.
David leads the Executive Team at LNER to transform train services on the East Coast route through the introduction of the fleet of brand-new Azuma trains. He is also working in partnership with Network Rail to deliver a £1.2 billion infrastructure programme.
David is passionate about customer experience, improving the railway network, and generating sustainable growth.
David grew up in Cornwall where he started his railway career before studying transport management at Aston University. He now lives in Nottinghamshire with his wife and their two children.
Geoff Spencer, Non-Executive Director (Freight and other non-passenger train operators)
Geoff Spencer is the former CEO of DB Cargo (UK) Limited, the country’s leading rail freight operator. He was appointed as a non-executive director of Direct Rail Services in January 2018.
His career began in 1986 when he joined British Rail as a Traction Trainee. Three years later he became a Driver before gaining positions as Traincrew Supervisor and then Traction Inspector.
Following the privatisation of British Rail, Geoff held various operational roles with English Welsh and Scottish Railway Limited (EWS), including Regional Operations Manager, General Manager Operations, and Director Resources.
In 2008 EWS became DB Schenker Rail UK and Geoff held various managerial and directoral posts, including three years in Germany as Head of European Resource Management. He returned to the UK to become CEO in September 2013.
DB Schenker Rail UK was renamed DB Cargo (UK) Limited in March 2016.
Geoff’s professional development was achieved through the Institute of Directors (London); the Cranfield University Business School of Management; the Richard Ivey School of Business (Canada) and the Ashridge College School of Management (England).
David Jordan, Non-Executive Director (Rolling stock owners, including rolling stock leasing companies)
David Jordan has over 25 years' experience in the rail industry. He joined Angel Trains in 2002 and has held the position of Head of Commercial since 2011. During his time at Angel Trains, David has primarily been responsible for leading the re-leasing of the rolling stock portfolio, and for new build transactions.
Prior to joining Angel Trains, David held positions at Atkins and HSBC. He is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer.
Martin Frobisher, Non-Executive Director (Network Rail and other infrastructure managers or owners)
Martin Frobisher is responsible for the safety, technical and engineering functions for Network Rail. This includes a varied mix of technical issues ranging from biodiversity to track engineering and future research. The team sets policy and technical standards and provides assurance to confirm that standards are being delivered.
Prior to taking up his current role Martin was route managing director for the London North Western Route, responsible for railway operations and infrastructure maintenance. This included the railways linking London to Birmingham, the North West, and onward to Carlisle. It’s an interesting mix of very different railways, including the Merseyrail underground metro service, urban centres in Manchester and Liverpool, the high-speed West Coast line and some very rural lines in Cumbria and North Lancashire.
Martin has worked in the railway industry for about 20 years, in a variety of safety, operational, and maintenance roles. Prior to joining the railway Martin worked in the chemical industry, at ICI Polyurethanes, near Blackpool.
Martin is married with two daughters. His hobbies are archery and running, and is also a Sunday school teacher for a group of 6-11-year-olds.
Anna Ince MBE, Non-Executive Director (Suppliers, including rolling stock manufacturers)
Anna joined Resonate in 2007 as CEO, following 13 years in senior roles with Invensys PLC. She has been managing director of various companies. These range from IT and mission-critical outsourced services in the utilities sector, to high-value manufacturing. From her roles at Invensys PLC and while working in private equity, Anna has gained industry transformation experience across many industry sectors. She embraces the value of adopting best-in-class ideas, as well as leveraging opportunities that new technologies create. Resonate is a mid-market company that provides rail traffic management and signalling control digital platforms. Anna is passionate about bringing together railway and digital age skills to deliver a consumer-centric railway.
Anna is a council member of the Rail Supply Group, a Rail Sector Deal Industry Champion, a member of the Rail Delivery Group’s Planning & Production Board, as well as being a non-executive director of both the Rail Industry Association and the Rail Forum Midlands trade association.
Steve Cocliff, Non-Executive Director (Infrastructure contractors)
Steve has been with VolkerRail since 2009 having previously worked in a number of infrastructure sectors including rail, civil engineering, telecoms, utilities and nuclear. He has held senior positions within the industry, including those of Managing Director of First Engineering (power & civil engineering), Managing Director of the Utilities business for Alfred McAlpine, and Managing Director of Utilities business for Carillion. As well as being on the Board of VolkerWessels UK he is also on the Board of the Institute of Rail Operators and the Railway Industry Association. He is actively engaged in a number of initiatives to improve and increase the level of training within the rail industry. Steve is committed to working in long-term collaborative partnerships with his clients in the delivery of projects that minimise their environmental impact and that encompass world class safety and innovation.
Emma Head, Non-Executive Director (Other infrastructure managers or owners)
Emma Head is a member of the High Speed Two Ltd (HS2 Ltd) Executive Committee with accountability for Health and Safety. Emma was responsible for leading the vision and direction for safety and security, setting the standard and expectations for health, safety, and security management and behaviours across the HS2 organisation, the programme and supply chain.
Emma has worked in the UK railway industry since 1999 and was previously Director of Safety Strategy at Network Rail, where she delivered a step change in workforce and passenger safety performance, as well as being accountable for assuring the delivery of asset improvement programmes. Emma has a wealth of experience from client and contractor perspectives, and has contributed to major railway engineering schemes, including West Coast route modernisation and London’s Crossrail project.
Before moving client side, Emma held various roles in large Tier 1 and 2 Contractors, working across the construction and rail sectors, and has led safety, quality, environmental and assurance functions delivering technical, system safety and business assurance. Emma joined RSSB on 16 April 2021.
John Clarke, Non-Industry, Non-Executive Director
John Clarke joined RSSB as a Non-Executive Director in 2017.
John worked in the nuclear industry for more than 35 years up to 2017. He has held a number of executive positions including Head of Environment, Health, Safety and Quality at the Sellafield plant in Cumbria, Director of Production for Sellafield Ltd, Managing Director of International Nuclear Service Ltd and most recently CEO of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.
John has held a number of non-executive roles over the past 10 years, as well as national and international advisory roles.
John is a Fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers and of the Nuclear Institute.
Board committees
RSSB have three board committees which assist the board with its responsibilities. Membership of the committees consists solely of non-executive directors. Executive directors and senior management attend certain meetings by invitation.
Audit and Risk Committee
- Steve Cocliff
- Anna Ince
- David Jordan
Remuneration Committee
- John Clarke (Chair)
- Geoff Spencer
- Mike Brown
Appointments Committee
- Mike Brown (Chair)
- John Clarke
- Geoff Spencer
