National Express picks head of Greater Anglia
National Express Group has appointed Martin Dean as sales and marketing director for its new rail “super franchise” of Greater Anglia.
The transport company begins operating the franchise on April 1. The super franchise comprises former franchises Anglia Railways, previously run by GB Railways, First Great Eastern, previously run by First Group, and the National-Express controlled West Anglia Great Northern (WAGN).
Dean, the former sales and marketing director for First Great Eastern, will be responsible for all marketing, pricing and communications. He reports to managing director Tim Clarke.
The three franchises spent a total of &£600,000 on advertising last year. The decision on which advertising agency Greater Anglia will use has yet to be made – WAGN used EHS Brann, Anglia used Jacob Bailey and First Great Eastern used the First Group roster.
Liz Mullen, formerly sales and marketing director for Anglia Railways, has been handed the position of business director Stansted. She will be responsible for all services between Liverpool Street and Stansted Airport.
WAGN is being split, with West Anglia joining the new franchise and Great Northern, which handles London Lines, remaining a separate franchise under WAGN branding. Commercial director David Hamilton will oversee marketing for London Lines.
National Express has agreed to spend &£11.3m on station improvements, refurbishing rolling stock and estasblishing new through services from London to Peterborough and Lowestoft as part of the franchise deal.
