Southeastern announce new MD

[Stats]

The Go-Ahead Group has announced that FCC MD David Statham has been appointed as Southeastern's new MD.

http://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/about-us/latest-news/press-release-southeastern-md-appointed/

PRESS RELEASE - Southeastern MD appointed

Date: 20 Aug 2014


David Statham has been appointed managing director of Southeastern, the Govia railway company serving Kent, south east London and part of East Sussex. He will take up the position on Monday 15 September and until this time will remain MD of First Capital Connect (FCC).

The Go-Ahead Group CEO, David Brown, said:

“I’m very pleased that after a comprehensive selection process David Statham will be joining The Go-Ahead Group. His commercial and operational expertise and experience will be a great asset for us. Southeastern is an important part of our rail portfolio and over the next few years we need to continue improving services for customers at the same time as being a key delivery partner for the Thameslink Programme upgrade work. David has proven success in leading complex railway change projects and improving customer satisfaction levels.”

David Statham added:

“I’m delighted to be joining the team at Southeastern at such a critical time and am looking forward to building on the firm foundations laid by the current management team.”

David has an extensive track record of leadership within the rail sector, having held a number of senior roles with a strong focus on customer service and major project delivery, most recently as the managing director of First Capital Connect.
Southeastern is currently discussing with the DfT a direct award contract extension until 2018. Southeastern serves 179 stations and carries around 600,000 passengers on more than 2,000 train journeys each weekday.

ENDS

 

[SF-02]

So the MD of one of the least liked TOC's goes to the least liked one that comes bottom of both the which and passenger focus surveys

To be fair I think FCC have improved quite a bit and do work in trying circumstances such as lack of stock. Southeastern are very poor in places and hopefully this will shake them up. FCC have been contending with Thameslink work and SE will be dealing with London Bridge so good experience there.

I wrote in the fares thread about how southeastern hardly ever offer good deals or any advance tickets compared to almost every other London serving TOC - eg London to Brighton for £5 is quite widely available and London to Ramsgate/Hastings/Margate etc are £35 even on non-HS1 routes with no advance tickets. SW trains do £fares from £1 to Weymouth and Southampton etc. GA to Norwich, Stansted etc. Loads more good advances from various companies. FCC never really seem to have good deals which is likely due to already being pretty full at all times of the day. SE however isn't off-peak (on coastal routes) so I hope they offer better fares with the new MD and when the franchise extension agreement is wrapped up.

 

[yorkie]

Poor treatment of customers looks set to continue on Southeastern then.

 

[tsr]

All a bit of a management merry-go-round really. David Statham leaves FCC and takes over from Charles Horton at Southeastern, who moves to GTR (the new TSGN franchise holder), which as a company takes over what FCC's been running.

 

[Skimble19]

Essentially we're having a quick game of "Swap the MD", although the new GTR one will of course be CEO! (Makes so much difference, you see!)

 

[LLivery]

You couldn't make this up.

I didn't like the idea the Charles Horton was leaving S**t-eastern (which has a stations down the road from me) was essentially going back to Southern (which serves my closes station) and taking GTR. Now I hear First C**p-ital Connect's David Statham is going to Southeastern!? Southeastern fails surveys time and time again as does FCC. How on earth did Govia win the GTR franchise when they make such stupid decisions like this!? They're doing themselves no favours and should have never have been awarded such a long franchise extension. I prefer SWT over all of them and wish Stagecoach took over the whole Southern Region. Probably not a popular opinion but oh well.

 

[yorkie]

...How on earth did Govia win the GTR franchise when they make such stupid decisions like this!...

Franchises are awarded on the basis of who can extract the most money out of hapless passengers. They are not awarded on any sensible basis such as customer satisfaction.

 

[Metobusfan]

Franchises are awarded on the basis of who can extract the most money out of hapless passengers. They are not awarded on any sensible basis such as customer satisfaction.

As Jessie j says... It's all about the money money money!

 

[SF-02]

Franchises are awarded on the basis of who can extract the most money out of hapless passengers. They are not awarded on any sensible basis such as customer satisfaction.

Except southeastern are not even good at that as on metro routes they have no staff on trains and pretty much no staff at stations so barriers are always open if they even exist = free trips for many people.