Nick joined Rock in January 2017. He brings over twenty years of experience in the railway industry in both the UK and mainland Europe, with a particular focus on the rolling stock market.

Nick’s career includes two executive roles at major rolling stock manufacturers. Firstly at Hitachi Rail Europe, where he was responsible for the sales, commercial and strategic planning activities of Hitachi’s rail business in both the UK and Europe. He developed, led and implemented Hitachi Rail Europe’s early new business strategy for mainland Europe including senior level engagement with SJ (Sweden), SBB (Switzerland) and DB (Germany). More recently Nick was UK Sales Director and a member of the Executive Management Team at Siemens Rail Systems with responsibility for overall Sales performance of the Rail Systems Division in the UK.

Prior to this Nick worked for the ROSCO HSBC Rail (now Eversholt Rail Group) for nearly ten years in a number of roles. He held overall responsibility for all activities relating to its portfolio of Intercity and Freight rolling stock assets, including relationship management, engineering and project management.

Since joining Rock, Nick’s activities have included being asset and project management lead for Rock on both the Moorgate Class 717 and the Greater Anglia Class 745 and Class 755 trains. Currently, Nick is dedicated to Rock’s engagement with Mainland Europe, leading business development activities in the German and, more recently, the French markets.

Nick brings with him a comprehensive knowledge of the UK and European rolling stock market and will support Rock Rail’s business development and asset management capabilities as it continues to grow its rolling stock portfolio.

Hans has over 28 years of extensive experience in the German rail sector and is supporting Rock Rail in the introduction of its innovative, competitive and 4th Railway Package compliant funding solutions to the German railway market.

He started his career in the federal states of Brandenburg and Berlin after German reunification, drawing up the future regional railway map for the capital and its surrounding region. In the 1990s, he moved to Deutsche Bahn (DB) and made the project a reality, as head of DB’s regional trains’ unit and group representative for the federal state of Brandenburg.

Hans went on, in 2001, to restructure the passenger rail business of Connex (now Transdev) in Germany, and then gained an additional five years’ experience with the Keolis group, restructuring the German rail business, after they encountered difficulties with the award of a contract.

In 2013/2014, he returned to Berlin/Brandenburg for an interim position as manager of VBB, the regional transport authority, in charge of tendering and contract management. Since then he has had engagements as consultant for different clients in the rail sector, including DB Netz AG and the Railroad Development Corporation (USA).

The German rail system’s current long-term rail development strategy, the “Deutschlandtakt” project, follows the timetable-based expansion of the rail network approach which Hans developed with other rail experts and regional authorities back in 2008.

Joined Rock December 2016

Trevor is a partner in Rock’s origination team and has over 20 years of experience in the European infrastructure market working across the transport, social infrastructure, power and renewables and communications sectors. Before joining Rock, he worked at major financing institutions, including Deutsche Bank, CIT Bank and, most recently, as regional project finance team head at HSBC, and he has been involved in many landmark financing deals, bringing together major clients, innovative commercial and financing structuring, and focussed and effective project management.

Natalia started working with Rock in March 2020 as commercial project manager. She will be working with the Rock Rail team focussed on the development of opportunities in the Australian market as well as initially supporting the German market team.

Prior to Rock Rail, Natalia had a 17-year career with Abellio Group, with key experience in the rail franchise bidding function, as lead financial modeller and rolling stock and operations finance analyst.

At Abellio, Natalia was most recently involved in the winning East Anglia and West Midlands bids, where she supported on new fleet procurement and contractual arrangements with the funders, manufacturers and maintainers.

Natalia was project manager for the East Anglia Class 720 Aventra fleet, taking responsibility for daily project management, coordination of engineering and operations teams, and commercial and stakeholder management. Being ‘embedded’ in this project at the Bombardier Derby site, she developed practical knowledge of production, quality and design process and contributed to the operator’s roll-out strategy for the new fleet.

Natalia also provided commercial and analytical support to the Joint Project Manager for the new build of Rock Rail’s class 745/755 fleet for East Anglia.

Mike joined the business in December 2018 in the newly created role of Chief Operating Officer heading up Rock Rail’s expanding asset management operations. Most recently he has taken up the role of Chief Originations Officer responsible for new rolling stock and rail infrastructure opportunities and fleet delivery across all markets.

With over 10 years of rail industry experience, Mike has a wealth of commercial, franchise bidding and asset delivery expertise.

Before joining Rock Mike was Franchise and Programmes Director and Deputy Managing Director for Abellio Greater Anglia leading the procurement and delivery of over 1000 new rolling stock vehicles, working closely with manufacturers to design, build and deliver modern high specification rolling stock for the passengers of Greater Anglia. Prior to this Mike was Abellio’s UK rail business development director and oversaw the successful expansion of Abellio, winning the ScotRail and Greater Anglia Franchises.

Mike’s previous roles have spanned a number of other infrastructure focussed industries across Europe and North America, including water and waste, working on the finance, structuring and development of large multidisciplinary infrastructure projects.

Mark founded Rock Rail in 2014, having established sister company Rock Infrastructure in 2011, following a highly successful career in law at Clifford Chance (10 years) and DLA Piper (18 years).

Mark has over 35 years of experience working in the City of London, New York and Europe. For the last 28 years, he has specialised in developing innovative funding, financing and procurement strategies for major infrastructure projects, working to ensure the alignment of public and private sector interests and to deliver substantially improved public sector value for money.

Since founding Rock Rail, Mark has led the business in securing £3 billion of institutional investment into new passenger rolling stock for UK rail franchises. He is a director for the companies established to finance and lease each of Rock Rail’s fleets to the rail franchises.

Under Rock Infrastructure, Mark was Commercial Director on the landmark Mersey Gateway Bridge Project and principal advisor on the transformation of CAE’s helicopter training facility PPP.

As a lawyer, Mark created and led DLA Piper’s Commercial and Projects Group and in 2007 became Global Head of DLA’s Infrastructure and Defence Sector.

Andrew is working with the Rock team, providing consultancy and advisory support on the development of rolling stock financing, ownership and asset management solutions in continental Europe in particular Germany.

Andrew has over 40 years of management experience in the railway industry encompassing the leadership of a plc rail division, domestic and international business development, rolling stock engineering and general management. He was Managing Director of the Rail division for National Express Group for 7 years and managing director of several train operating companies over 15 years before retiring in 2017.

As a chartered engineer and fellow of the IMechE, Andrew has substantial experience in the procurement of rolling stock and the management of rolling stock projects from initial business concept through to full implementation of operational solution. The business development experience, both domestic and international, includes the development of propositions and franchise bidding in new markets. In particular, in Germany, Andrew led the entry and establishment of a new regional rail operator, building strong and effective partnerships and client relations.

Andrew now provides consultancy and advisory support to various parties on rail matters including operators, asset owners, investors and regulators.

Andrew brings his safety, commercial and operational experience together with specific knowledge of the German rail market to support and advise the group.

Andreas is working closely with the Rock Rail origination team, primarily on supporting the due diligence process for funders and equity investors. Current focus is on developing an expanded role for European Investment Bank sourced funding in support of Rock Rail’s expansion into Europe.

Andreas is an independent consultant specialising in infrastructure /project finance. His close association with Rock Rail dates back to September 2014 when Rock was still in its formative stages. He has over 35 years of experience managing the realisation of major infrastructure, power, petroleum, mining and PPP projects. In addition to Rock Rail, his senior rail experience includes: the West Coast Mainline upgrade project, rail franchise bids, the Thameslink project, Sydney Metro and advising the EU Commission on implementing TENS, the trans-European rail project for Europe.

Prior to working with Rock, Andreas had senior roles in the investment banking and in management consulting. His career includes senior infrastructure/ project finance lending roles with SecPac, EBC, Amro and with Mitsubishi Bank where he headed up the Infrastructure Finance team. After completing a doctorate at the University of Sussex, Andreas worked as a management consultant at McKinsey, moving on to develop PFI projects at Serco and subsequently to the EIB, as a Principal Advisor, advising on PPP policy and funding guidance for EU member states.

Matthew has over 18 years of experience of the infrastructure sector.

Since joining Rock in 2011, Matthew has played a leading role in the negotiation of the commercial aspects of all of Rock’s fleet.  He also played a lead role in the procurement and delivery of the Mersey Gateway Bridge PPP, which successfully opened in October 2017. In January 2020, Matthew started as Rock’s Head of Compliance and Risk to support the successful delivery of Rock’s fleets and later that year became Rock’s Chief Investment Officer.

Matthew has acted as a deal principal, financial advisor, a joint lead arranger and bookrunner and a legal advisor on infrastructure projects which gives him a unique perspective and insight into how to structure a project to bring it to a successful conclusion.

Matthew has specialized in PPP across all sectors from roads, parking and airports to the healthcare and education sectors, both in the UK, Europe and North America.

Prior to joining Rock, Matthew worked as a Vice President in the Royal Bank of Scotland’s infrastructure finance group (in New York) and was an Associate in DLA Piper’s commercial and projects team (in London).

Ed graduated with First Class Honours and a Dean’s commendation in Civil Engineering in 2018, joining Rock later that year.

He helped execute the closing of the East Midlands and West Coast transactions in 2019, with a combined deal value of £750m. He also supports the origination of new opportunities in the UK and abroad.