Train operator Trenitalia c2c is delighted to announce the appointment of Rob Mullen as c2c’s Managing Director. Rob started in his new position in May, taking over from Ben Ackroyd following his departure earlier in the spring.
This appointment marks a return for Rob; he worked for c2c in 2007 as Route Performance Manager, before quickly gaining his Depot Driver competence and joining the Driver Management team. Rob then spent three years as a Senior Driver Manager based at Shoeburyness depot.
Since his time at c2c, Rob has held a number of roles at rail operators Great Western Railway and Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR).
Following regional and general management roles at GWR, Rob spent the last three years of his eight at the rail firm as Operations Director. During this time his team were a central cog in the delivery of the modernisation of the Great Western mainline through infrastructure and electrification schemes, as well as multiple introductions of new rolling stock. Outside of his role of Operations Director he sponsored the First Group Graduate Programme, putting a real emphasis on practical action into the syllabus of those going through it.
Most recently Rob has been the Train Services Director at Thameslink and Great Northern, part of GTR, where he led a real improvement in overall safety and operational delivery, with a focus on implementing Automatic Train Operation and the European Train Control System through central London, not to mention navigating through the pandemic.
Rob is a keen supporter of the industry, chairing the Passenger Operator Safety Group for the Rail Delivery Group as well as promoting whole career learning through organisations like the Institute of Rail Operators and the Young Rail Professionals.
Rob lives with his partner and three children and enjoys running, wildlife and spending time with his family. He is on the Board of Trustees for Bath City Football Club Foundation, the charitable arm of the football club.
Rob said, “I am really pleased to be coming back to c2c after over a decade of working in the railways. I look forward to meeting stakeholders across the route and working together to attract customers back to our fantastic railway.”
Alice Shimali also joined c2c as Head of Communications in May, bringing with her the ambition to enhance the operator’s communications activities, share great stories about the firm and its local communities, and bolster c2c’s strong local links with businesses, stakeholders and charities.
A rail user for commuting and a frequent leisure traveller, Alice is a big advocate for the railway. She joined the industry five years ago and was most recently leading the Public Relations team at Govia Thameslink Railway - the largest rail operator in the country - overseeing activity across the Thameslink, Southern, Great Northern and Gatwick Express brands.
During her tenure, she delivered frequent positive media coverage on numerous themes, such as Diversity & Inclusion, Suicide Prevention, Recruitment, new fleet introductions and partnership opportunities, all with GTR’s people front and centre, and all helping to improve its reputation with customers, the media and stakeholders, alike, resulting in Thameslink becoming the most improved brand in YouGov’s Recommend Rankings in late 2021.
Before joining GTR, Alice was the Global Employer Brand Manager at Unilever and prior to this was a journalist for financial and construction trade titles.
Alice has lived on the c2c route with her husband for nearly seven years, she enjoys cooking (and eating the results!), and is a keen runner.
Alice said, “As a user for commuting and a frequent leisure traveller on the c2c route, I’m so pleased to have joined the team at such an important time. I’m a big advocate for the railway and feel heavily invested in the success of c2c, our teams and local communities as we continue to attract customers back to the railway post-pandemic.”