The Institution is pleased to announce that Alex Hynes has been appointed as the new Chair of the IRO board of directors.

Alex, who is currently the Managing Director of Arrival Rail North, joined the IRO Board of Directors in 2013.  Having spent his early career as a consultant for Halcrow Fox, Alex worked with the Office of Rail Regulation before joining the Go-Ahead Group in 2005 as Strategic Planning Manager and, in 2007, as Commercial Director at London Midland, and finally, as Managing Director – Rail Development. Here Alex sat on the Executive Committee and led the development and delivery of Go-Ahead’s rail strategy including all franchise bidding activity.

Working with the IRO board of directors and Fiona Tordoff, IRO Chief Executive Officer, Alex will guide the strategic direction of the IRO as it continues to seek to professionalise railway operations. Throughout his tenure Alex will oversee the IRO’s application for a Royal Charter which will aim to build upon the progress that has been made to establish the profession of railway operations within the industry.

Alex will succeed Jo Kaye as she continues in her role as Network Strategy and Planning Director at Network Rail. As Chair for over two years, Jo oversaw the launch IRO Learn, IRO conferences and continued growth in one of the fastest growing membership organisations for railway professionals.