Mark Hopwood, Managing Director, First Great Western

Mark Hopwood, Managing Director, First Great Western

Mark Hopwood, Managing Director, First Great Western

Hopwood joined the railway aged 17 as a clerical officer, and his talent was immediately spotted. BR sponsored him through university and he joined their management trainee scheme. After privatisation he had commercial and operational management roles at Thames Trains before joining Railtrack as passenger negotiations manager.

Hopwood returned to train operation in 2001 as operations director of First North Western and with David Franks transformed punctuality. He has pulled off similar tricks...