Chiltern Railways

Senior Executive Team

“I was looking to refresh my senior management team at Chiltern Railways. To get the right calibre and quality I felt we needed to look outside the railway industry, as well as within.

“The most important thing for me was to bring in a fresh view, new thinking and the right attitude. It was a radical move and a potential risk to the business, so I chose Neil Watkins at Hanover Fox to lead the executive search process.

We ran the interviews in-house but instantly compared notes with Hanover Fox after each session. They challenged me when they thought it necessary and stood up for some candidates. In one case, they persuaded me to take a candidate I would have discarded on to a second interview; that person has now become a really valued member of my team.

“It was a really positive process. There’s no way we could have reached some of the candidates we eventually employed. My team couldn’t have handled the administration without massive disruption to our everyday work challenges. I don’t think we could have found the calibre of people without executive search and in particular, Hanover Fox’s established networks.

“We employed 5 people and they are really setting our world alight. What’s really impressed me is that Hanover Fox have continued to keep in touch with them after they have joined to make sure they are bedding in.

“I am delighted with my new senior team and I would definitely recommend Hanover Fox.”

Dave Penny – Managing Director