Executive directors

David Higgins, chief executive

David Higgins joined the board in April 2010 as a non-executive director and took up the role of chief executive on 1 February 2011. He is also a non-executive director of Sirius Minerals Plc.

He was appointed chief executive designate of the Olympic Delivery Authority in December 2005 and appointed chief executive with effect from 30 March 2006 and held this role until January 2011. Prior to December 2005, he was chief executive of English Partnerships for three years. His early career was at Lend Lease Group, where he was appointed managing director and group chief executive in 1995.

David graduated in Civil Engineering from the University of Sydney and holds a diploma from the Securities Institute of Australia.

Appointed 1 April 2010

Patrick Butcher, group finance director

Patrick Butcher is responsible for Finance, Property, Procurement, Information Management, Legal Services and Human Resources.

Patrick previously held the position of finance director at English Welsh and Scottish Railway (now DB Schenker (UK)) between 2004 and 2008. Before this he was finance director at Mapeley Ltd, London Underground and King’s College Hospital. His early career was at Deloitte & Touche, as a management consultant and Auditor.

Patrick is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants (South Africa).

Appointed 20 April 2009

Robin Gisby, managing director, Network Operations

Robin Gisby joined the board in 2008, having been employed by Network Rail and its predecessor, Railtrack, since 1997. Robin leads the day-to-day operation and maintenance of the national rail network, including local asset management. Robin is therefore responsible for delivering a safe railway and for the safety of its passengers.

Previous roles in the company include director, Operations and Customer Services and two regional director positions. Within Railtrack, Robin was director, Network Development and director, Freight. Before joining Railtrack Robin held engineering and operational roles in the UK and overseas, mainly with GKN Plc.

He has a first degree in Engineering Science and an MBA. He is a chartered engineer and a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Transport.

Appointed 1 October 2008

Simon Kirby, managing director, Infrastructure Projects

Simon Kirby joined the board in 2008, having been with Network Rail since 2003. He is responsible for delivery of all large enhancement and renewal infrastructure projects. Simon is also responsible for leading the new rail projects business within Network Rail.

Previously, Simon held positions in the defence industry and has been involved in a number of land and naval weapons system projects including the Trident nuclear submarine programme. In 2000, he was appointed managing director of three BAE Systems shipyards before, in 2002, becoming managing director of the BAE Systems Type 45 Prime Contract Organisation.

Simon is also on the board of the Major Projects Association. He has an MSc in Engineering Business Management from Warwick University and is a fellow of the Institute of Civil Engineers and of the Association of Project Management.

Appointed 1 October 2008

Paul Plummer, group strategy director

Paul Plummer joined the board in 2008, having been with Network Rail since 2002. He is responsible for development of the group’s strategy, network planning, the development of enhancement projects, the periodic regulatory review process, reform of the regulatory and contractual framework and regulatory, government and European affairs. In December 2011, his remit was broadened to include leading industry planning and coordination through the Rail Delivery Group.

Paul was chief economist and director of Economics and Finance at the Office of Rail Regulation from 1999 to 2001. He has also worked at National Economic Research Associates (NERA), NM Rothschild and Accenture advising companies, governments and regulators on utility regulation, restructuring, privatisation, strategy, finance and mergers and acquisitions in the UK and overseas.

He has a degree and an MSc in Economics.

Appointed 1 October 2008