Our capability in Rail executive search

Finding the best talent for your senior railway jobs is critical. The global railway industry is constantly under pressure to meet ever changing passenger, freight, environmental and societal needs. So it can be difficult to navigate the talent market and source the best people for your senior roles. 

That’s where Newsom Consulting comes in.

With an unparalleled network in the rail sector, we provide you with a breadth and depth of access you won’t find elsewhere. Our rail executive search experience has located the right candidates for even the most difficult roles to fill, including international relocations, successfully completing over 500 rail executive search mandates.

Whether you’re a train operator, rail infrastructure contractor, consulting firm, rolling stock business, infrastructure asset owner, public sector agency, or technology supplier, you’ll be in good hands. Covering a multidisciplinary range of functions, we have recruited senior staff for all the major UK rail projects of recent years, searching across both UK and international markets.

We are also proud sponsors of the Senior Women in or Formerly in Transport (SWiFT) group, a networking group founded by Women in Rail to champion diversity within leadership roles across the transport sector.

  • General Management
  • Business Development
  • Engineering
  • Commercial Management
  • Contract Management & Procurement
  • Planning
  • Estimating & Project Controls
  • Operations Management
  • Project & Programme Management
  • Bid Management
  • Transport Planning
  • Safety & Assurance
  • Environment & Sustainability
  • Finance & Risk Management

  • Infrastructure Management Director –  Transport Operator
  • Construction Director, HS2 –  Civil Engineering Contractor
  • MEP Stations Lead –  Engineering Consultancy
  • Head of Engineering –  Freight Operator
  • Chief Operating Officer –  Train Operating Company
  • Engineering Manager –  Australian Transport Operator
  • Framework Director –  Civil Engineering Contractor
  • Rail Sector Director –  Civil Engineering Contractor
  • Rail Signalling Project Director –  Contractor
  • Deputy Engineering Director –  Train Operating Company
  • Group Head of Procurement –  Civil Engineering Contractor
  • JV Bid Director –  Rail Systems Contractor
  • Managing Director –  Metro Transport Operator
  • Head of Commercial – European Rail Group
  • Engineering Director – Train Operating Company
  • Head of Global Sales, Rail – European Technology Company
  • Commercial Director – Rail Contractor
  • Head of Safety & Risk Management, Rail – Risk Management Firm
  • Project Director – $ billion Middle East Rail Project
  • Project Director – £ billion London Rail Project
  • Operations Director – Rail Contractor
  • Technical Director, Rail Planning – Transport Planning Consultancy
  • Director, Feasibility Engineering – Rail Consultancy
  • Director  HSQE – Rail Contractor
  • Managing Director – JV Rail Contractor
  • Operations Director – Transport Operator
  • Deputy Director, Operations – Rail Transport Authority
  • Engineering Director – Rail Systems Contractor
  • Head of Signalling – Rail Consultancy
  • Head of Tunnelling – £ billion London Rail Project
  • Director of Health & Safety – Rail Transport Authority
  • Head of Rolling Stock – Transport Consultancy
  • Head of Revenue Forecasting – Rail Consultancy
  • Manager, Regulation – Rail Industry Body
  • Head of Rolling Stock – TOC Franchise Bid Team
  • Business Development Director – Train Builder
  • Head of Customer Service – Train Operating Company
  • Independent Investment Programme Advisors – Rail Transport Authority

Since taking over as the CEO of Crossrail I have put a lot of effort into establishing the right leadership team to complete the project. Newsom Consulting have been a great partner in this work. Together we have worked to assemble a great new team with the right energy and capability for one of the worlds most complex projects.

Jim and team are a real pleasure to work with; responsive and sensitive to our unique circumstances.

CEO, Crossrail

Exceptional knowledge of the industry and thoroughly professional service.

Managing Director UK Engineering, SYSTRA

We have worked with Newsom Consulting on a number of successful senior searches. They listen carefully to assemble the right brief and have identified strong, well targeted shortlists. Their written documentation on the search and shortlisted candidates is informative and insightful.

Managing Director Rail, WSP

ACE retained the services of Newsom Consulting to help us recruit our next CEO. They really listened and took our requests on board, were proactive and pushed the process through efficiently. Their candidate reports and shortlisting process were clear and helpful, with a high calibre of candidates presented, enabling us to hire a great candidate. They made the recruitment process easy for us and were a real pleasure to work with.

Chairperson of the Association for Consultancy and Engineering 

SPL have worked with Newsom Consulting for several years and they have assisted our UK business over a period of significant growth; successfully recruiting a number of key people to leadership roles across our business, including project leadership, commercial, HSQE, business development, general management and engineering. They have a good understanding of the industry, are well networked and are easy to work with. I have subsequently recommended Jim to others and wouldn’t hesitate to do so again.

Managing Director, SPL Powerlines UK

“UK Power Network Services recently partnered with Newsom Consulting to recruit a key strategic appointment. They provided us with a targeted candidate search and shortlist of candidates from which we were able to make a successful appointment. Throughout the engagement there was senior involvement from Newsom Consulting and they demonstrated deep knowledge of the sector and market. They were patient, thorough and professional throughout the search.”

Director of UK Power Networks Services

Newsom Consulting are a quality organisation who have provided us with some exceptional candidates. They have the ability to take away a large part of the recruitment workload and make it much easier for us to fill roles, which would otherwise take considerably more management time.

Infrastructure Services Director, Amey

Newsom Consulting provided a very professional service resulting in a great selection of high quality candidates.

Framework Director, BAM Nuttall

Jim has led the searches and from his considerable knowledge of the rail sector has each time provided TfL with an excellent list of potential candidates from which is has been able to make a suitable appointment.

Rail Development Director, TfL

We received a shortlist of diverse but well qualified candidates in a relatively short period of time and, unusually, had more than one good candidate to make a final choice from. Jim’s knowledge of the market and ability to probe and fully understand our requirements was key.

Head of HR, Heathrow Express

Jim is easy to work with and operates as an extension of our Talent Acquisition team. He works well in our complex organisational structure and has been able to bring great candidates for difficult to fill roles.

VP Global Talent Acquisition, AECOM

Newsom Consulting have delivered a number of high calibre people to the project, they always ensure they understand the brief and work to tight timescales. Given the choice I would always use Jim for future assignments.

Head of Human Resources, Crossrail

Case Studies

SWR Chief Operating Officer

South Western Railway retained our services initially to recruit an Operations Director. In this role, the successful candidate would be responsible for providing leadership and strategic direction for c3,000 staff across all activities related to train service delivery, customer service onboard trains and operational safety.

PwC – Director – Public Transport Consulting Practice (UK)

PwC’s Public Transport practice needed a strong candidate to come in and build the practice.

Director of CCS Solutions

The Director of CCS Solutions was a newly created role within WSP responsible for leading the development and delivery of integrated, affordable and innovative CCS solutions for rail clients in the UK and overseas

Our Team

Paul Neave

Richard Dobbs

Jim Newsom

Kelly Barlow

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Congratulations to all of our Movers and Shakers from March, let’s take a look at who has moved where this month…

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