Operations Director – West Midlands Trains
Background Veredus provide 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 client West Midlands Trains (WMT). WMT operate two train networks – West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern Railway – connecting London, the Midlands and the North West. The brief The planned retirement led to a need to hire a new Operations Director and as a specialist executive recruitment firm within rail we were asked to undertake the assignment. The role was responsible for leading WMT’s Operations directorate, proving inspirational leadership to contribute to delivering the company’s business strategy to achieve defined business goals and required cost savings. Our approach Our approach was a detailed and comprehensive search, both inside and outside rail. We did not advertise the role, as together with the client we had a clear understanding of the type of individual required and where to find them. In addition, confidentiality was important to all parties concerned and a targeted search was therefore deemed the best approach. Once candidates were identified and approached, they were assessed and interviewed, and we then asked the shortlisted candidates to complete a Candidate Profiling Document (CPD) outlining their individual suitability. The CPD allowed the candidates to demonstrate their skills and experience in more depth and relevant to the role, and it also provided background as to their motivations and approach. The two-week search generated a long list of potential candidates that were then agreed with the client, before we approached them to assess their level of interest. Over a further two week period we reduced the list and engaged with 19 candidates who demonstrated both the interest required in the role and the level of skills and experience needed. This resulted in our interviewing 12 candidates and then asking the shortlist of 6 to complete a Candidate Profiling Document. The client interviewed 3 candidates and then invited a fourth candidate into the process, who was ultimately offered the position.
Interim Commercial Director (part time role) – London based TOC
Background Veredus provide interim executive talent across the transport and infrastructure sector, including many of the UK train operating companies, Network Rail, DFT 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 client Our client is a UK train operating company that is part of one of the largest providers of passenger transport in Europe with 60,000 employees delivering more than 2.2 billion passenger journeys every year. The brief Interim Commercial Director (part time role). The role required an experienced Commercial director with significant rail experience who was used to working at director level across commercial and customer experience. It was also a requirement that the candidate was happy to work on a part time 2/3 days a week basis as a job share. Interim operations Director (fixed term contract) the role required someone who had been an Operations Director in the past and was immediately available and with the added complication of being satisfied with a fixed term contract rather than either a day rate interim or permanent post. Interim Financial Controller – the requirement was immediate and again required experience of the rail sector and the confident and ability to manage and build a team. Our solution: In all instances we leaned heavily on our rail market expertise speaking and meeting with a wide range of established contacts and building new networks across the sector. In addition, we reached out (confidentially) on social media to draw attention to the roles. All three posts were successfully filled with the Commercial Director ultimately joining full time, the operations director being extended twice and the financial Controller delivering as required before a permanent hire was made.