WSP appoints senior hires into UK Rail business

WSP, the engineering professional services consultancy, has made two senior hires into its Rail business, after welcoming Rosie Illingworth as Service Leader for Rolling Stock and Dan Bishop as Group Director for Stations.

Rosie Illingworth will develop the firm’s Rolling Stock Advisory team in the UK and build a national capability to support clients with expert strategic rolling stock advice.

This will be a new service offering for WSP in the Rail sector. The Rolling Stock Advisory team will leverage its links to WSP’s international team of rolling stock specialists and its interface with WSP’s expertise in the UK rail industry to deliver well-informed rolling stock advice.

Rosie will be based in WSP’s Derby office, acting as a focal point for existing rolling stock activities in the UK and growing a dedicated team to meet the needs of the industry. Rosie joins WSP from SNC-Lavalin where she was a Section Head in the Rolling Stock Business Consulting team.

Rosie Illingworth, Head of Rolling Stock at WSP, said: “Growing a new rolling stock business at WSP is an exciting prospect and the collaborative and entrepreneurial culture within the broader WSP Rail team will enable us to build a new offering that will deliver valuable insight to our clients. It’s an exciting time in the rolling stock industry and being based in Derby with its heritage in this space will help WSP provide expert strategic advice to current and prospective clients.”

Dan Bishop joins from Atkins where he has spent the previous 12 years, most recently as Practice Director in Birmingham. In his new role at WSP, he will oversee the delivery of a broad portfolio of stations projects, including the firm’s work on HS2’s Curzon Street Station and Birmingham International Station.

Operating out of WSP’s Midlands headquarters in The Mailbox, Dan will lead the Stations team which has around 150 staff across the UK, sitting within the Rail business. A key part of his role will include ensuring efficient integration of the wide range of engineering and design disciplines involved in every WSP stations project.

Dan Bishop, Group Director for Stations at WSP, said: “WSP is at the leading edge of transport infrastructure development both in the Midlands, nationally and internationally. I am delighted to be joining at such an exciting time as the firm is currently working on a range of transformative projects which will revolutionise the way we all live and travel.

“The firm’s commitment to sustainability and delivering future ready projects really stood out to me and I am looking forward to embracing these values as part of an expert team. From our Birmingham base, I am aiming to help WSP pursue emerging opportunities in the Midlands Engine and across the UK, supporting the Rail team’s long-term growth plans.”

The firm is currently supporting the delivery of several Crossrail stations in central London, HS2’s Old Oak Common and Curzon Street stations as well as regional stations schemes including Brent Cross West and Beaulieu in Essex.

Darren Reed, UK Managing Director for Rail, said: “We’re delighted that Rosie and Dan have joined WSP at such an exciting time for our Rail business in the UK. WSP is working on many landmark projects which will connect communities, transforming the way people in the UK travel and the experience they have when navigating around a station.

“Increased train travel and the electrification of rail networks will support the Government’s ambition to decarbonise transport across the UK as part of the 2050 net zero target. Rosie and Dan are warmly welcomed into the team and I look forward to seeing the fantastic contribution they will make to the business.”

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

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ABOUT WSP

WSP is one of the world's leading engineering professional services consulting firms. We are dedicated to our local communities and propelled by international brainpower. We are technical experts and strategic advisors including engineers, technicians, scientists, planners, surveyors and environmental specialists, as well as other design, program and construction management professionals. We design lasting solutions in the Property & Buildings, Transportation & Infrastructure, Environment, Industry, Resources (including Mining and Oil & Gas) and Power & Energy sectors as well as project delivery and strategic consulting services.

With more than 8,200 talented people in the UK and approximately 49,500 globally, we engineer projects that will help societies grow for lifetimes to come. WSP has been involved in many high-profile UK projects including the re-development of London Bridge Station and Quarter, Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, HS2, Transport for the North Strategic Development Corridor studies, One Blackfriars and the Shard.

www.wsp.com/uk