Mary Grant

Managing Director, First Group UK Rail Division

FirstGroup is the largest rail operator in the UK, with four passenger franchises – First Capital Connect, First Great Western, ScotRail and First TransPennine Express – and one open access operator, Hull Trains. The Group operates one quarter of the UK passenger rail network, with a balanced portfolio of intercity, commuter and regional services carrying more than 280 million passengers per annum.

It also operates rail freight services through First GBRf and runs the Croydon Tramlink network on behalf of Transport for London, carrying over 26 million passengers a year.

Mary Grant was appointed Managing Director of the Group’s UK Rail Division in May 2009, having been Acting Managing Director since November 2008.

The appointment follows a remarkable transformation of  ScotRail under her leadership – leading the company to be named UK Public Operator of the Year in 2006, UK Passenger Operator of the Year in 2008 and Scottish Public Transport Operator of the Year in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

ScotRail is responsible for one of the largest and most complex rail franchises in the UK with some 650,000 train journeys a year over an area serving 342 stations and spanning some 3000 kilometres of track.

Under Mary’s stewardship, ScotRail was awarded a three-year extension to the franchise In April 2008 – with the Scottish Government declaring it was down “to the success of ScotRail in delivering levels of performance above and beyond those set out in the original agreement”.

As well as delivering more than 20% growth in passenger numbers, customer satisfaction with First ScotRail is at a record high.

Mary has a strong commercial and customer service background. Her career began in marketing and brand management and, before joining First’s Rail Division, she worked with KPMG Corporate Finance on a range of acquisitions. Previous appointments in transport include Marketing Director for Silverlink Train Services, Commercial Director at Travel West Midlands and a six-month rail and tram secondment to Australia.

Mary was named Director of the Year 2006 by the Institute of Directors Scotland; HSBC Rail Manager of the Year 2008, Passenger Transport Professional of the Year 2008, Quality Scotland’s Leadership Award 2008 and received the award for Outstanding Contribution to Transport across Scotland at the Scottish Transport Awards 2009.