Meet Alex Hornby: The New Visionary Behind Northern Rail's Growth Strategy

Northern Rail Welcomes New Leadership

Northern Rail has appointed Alex Hornby as its new Commercial and Customer Director effective from 18 November 2024. In this pivotal role, Hornby will oversee the train operator’s sales, marketing, commercial development, and customer experience functions.

About Alex Hornby

Born in Liverpool and currently residing in Harrogate, Hornby studied Transport Management at Aston University in Birmingham. His previous experience includes a significant tenure at McGill’s, the UK’s largest privately-owned bus operator, where he served as Group Managing Director.

Hornby has also held senior positions in the bus industry, including Managing Director and later Chief Executive at Transdev Blazefield from 2015 to 2023, and Commercial Director at trentbarton from 2010 to 2015.

Leadership Insights

Tricia Williams, Managing Director of Northern, expressed enthusiasm about Hornby's appointment, stating, “Alex has a brilliant track record of creating customer-centric services and products that grow demand.” She believes his extensive experience in public transport will be a valuable asset to the team.

In response to his new role, Hornby stated, “This is an incredible role and I’m excited to get started. With the support of colleagues across the network and the potential for growth in the region, I know we have the ability to power economic growth.” He emphasized the importance of becoming a valued asset to customers and supporting communities to generate prosperity across the North of England.

Transition Period

Hornby will be taking over from Mark Powles, who is set to leave the train operator at the end of December following a handover period.

About Northern Rail

Northern is the second largest train operator in the UK, managing nearly 2,500 services a day to over 500 stations across the North of England.