Background
Veredus provide interim executive talent across the transport and infrastructure sector, including many of the UK train operating companies, Network Rail and the Rail Delivery Group.
We recruit exceptional individuals across all functions, including HR, Finance, Operations, Engineering, Health and Safety, Procurement, Projects and Programme Management.
The challenge
GTR stands for Govia Thameslink Railway, and includes Southern, Thameslink, Great Northern and Gatwick Express. Govia is a partnership between the Go-Ahead Group and Keolis. With over 7400 staff, we manage 239 stations and deliver 24% of all passenger rail journeys in the UK.
The two roles were both at ‘heads or’ level. This is a particularly challenging level at which to hire as experienced interims tend to be working at a more senior level and are typically looking for director or change based assignments, rather than BAU team management.
We were also required to find candidates with rail or related sector experience as both the procurement and facilities functions with rail have specific requirements, relating the DFT and also the relationship with Network Rail.
Our solution
In both instances our first approach was to contact our network and work through previous assignments that we have handled in the sector for similar roles. This generated a number of interesting conversations which we then supplemented by doing a wider search through social media and railway-based communities.
The appointments were both made successfully.