Managing director of First Great Western

Age: 38

Married with three children

Left school at 17 and was sponsored though university by British Rail. Studied politics at University of Essex

After British Rail, worked in senor roles at Silverlink, c2c, WAGN and Gatwick Express, where he was managing director, and at LondonLines

Joined FGW as performance director in January 2008 and was formally appointed managing director that December after Andrew Haines stepped down for personal reasons

Cites the coastal routes on the St Erth to St Ives branch line, considered one of the most scenic in Europe, and the line between Exeter and Newton Abbot past Dawlish ("I always put my laptop to one side and look out the window") as his favourites in the West- country