Network Rail has appointed Susan Cooklin as its new route services director and joins the company’s executive team. Ms Cooklin was previously group chief information officer (CIO) and director shared services, leading the company’s 900-strong IT and shared services unit.

She takes up a newly formed role from 4 January heading up a route services directorate which will supply services to each of Network Rail’s eight routes – or regional business units – allowing them to reap benefits from economies of scale and the company to optimise resources on a national basis. The directorate will initially include group business services (IT, payroll and finance shared services) the national supply chain (delivering engineering trains, equipment and materials for upgrade works) and Network Rail Consulting.

Mark Carne, chief executive, said: "This new role, leading a new team, is another step towards delivering a better, more efficient national service to our route teams. Susan brings excellent industry knowledge and leadership credentials, with already strong relationships with stakeholders across a number of industries, including rail, financial services and technology.”

Born in Leicester, she studied economics and accountancy before moving into technology in the financial services sector. Susan has held senior and executive roles in both IT and business operations within FTSE top 20 companies in the UK. Before joining Network Rail she spent seven years at Barclays Banking Group in a variety of executive roles in technology, change and operations. In September 2014, she was asked to join the board of Leeds Building Society as a non-executive director. In May 2012 Susan was the only European shortlisted for The MIT Sloan CIO Symposium 2012 Award for Innovation Leadership. She is listed in the UKtech50 2015 - The most influential people in UK IT having launched the award winning Could IT Be You? competition encouraging young women to take up IT as a career.

(Source: Network Rail)