Northern has announced that it has appointed Matt Rice as its new Chief Operating Officer.

Rice lives in York, North Yorkshire, and is currently a route director at Network Rail.

He will take up his new post in late spring, taking over from Tricia Williams, who will replace Nick Donovan as Northern’s new managing director. Northern announced Williams’ appointment last August and its search for a replacement in October.

Rice is a graduate of Aberystwyth University, and joined Network Rail as a management trainee. His career has included what Northern describes as “a diverse range of roles spanning the intricacies of the UK railway system”.

After working on the railway in the Middle East, he returned to the UK, and in 2019, Network Rail appointed him Route Director for its north and east route.

Rice’s role as Chief Operating Officer will involve leading all Northern service and engineering functions across the North of England, aiming to deliver a stable and reliable service for passengers.

Northern is a publicly owned train operating company, owned by the Department for Transport‘s Operator of Last Resort since 2020.

Commenting on his appointment, Matt Rice said: “I am really looking forward to joining the team at Northern and working with Tricia and colleagues across the region to deliver for our customers.

“I have spent my career focused on making things better and I am committed to fostering a positive workplace culture for all and delivering great rail services for people across the North of England.”

Tricia Williams, incoming managing director of Northern, said: “Matt has extensive knowledge of the UK rail network and a clear understanding of the size and scope of our operation.

“What also became clear during the recruitment process was his steadfast commitment to understanding and enhancing the colleague experience for the teams he has led, recognising its importance and impact on the quality of service delivered.”