Nick Watson Email & Phone Number

London, United Kingdom

Rock Rail was established in 2014 to offer innovative, value enhancing funding approaches for strategically important passenger rolling stock and other rail infrastructure. Rock Rail is transforming the rolling stock market and since 2016 has secured £3.2 billion of funding for new rolling stock fleets from Siemens, Stadler, Hitachi and Bombardier for use by GTR, Abellio and First MTR on Moorgate, Greater Anglia, South Western, East Midlands and most recently West Coast rail services.… Show more Rock Rail was established in 2014 to offer innovative, value enhancing funding approaches for strategically important passenger rolling stock and other rail infrastructure. Rock Rail is transforming the rolling stock market and since 2016 has secured £3.2 billion of funding for new rolling stock fleets from Siemens, Stadler, Hitachi and Bombardier for use by GTR, Abellio and First MTR on Moorgate, Greater Anglia, South Western, East Midlands and most recently West Coast rail services. Since the beginning of 2019 I have been responsible for Rock's business development and commercial activities in mainland Europe. Working with a team of Rock Rail experts and industry advisors, activities have included establishing Rock’s market presence, building and validating a pipeline of opportunities, engaging with regional government, local transport authorities, operators, manufacturers, stakeholders and influencers and establishing Rock Rail in Berlin. This work culminated in July 2022 with the successful financial close of a funding for a new fleet of 17 Alstom Double-Deck EMUs for Deutsche Bahn to operate Main-Weser services for Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund (RMV) in the Frankfurt/Hessen region of Germany. Our first financing in the German market. Following this success I have also taken on overall responsibility for the Rock Rail Asset Management and Project Management for this fleet. Previously I was responsible for the planning, development and implementation of asset management activities for Rock's Greater Anglia and Moorgate fleets. Working with customers, suppliers, partners and stakeholders to ensure the successful introduction and operation of the new rolling stock, optimising the whole life asset value, minimising residual value risk and protecting investments. Show less

London, United Kingdom

Rock Rail was awarded preferred funder for Regional and Inter-City fleets for Abellio Greater Anglia, the company was awarded the Greater Anglia franchise by the Department for Transport in August 2016. As Senior Consultant, I was part of the bid team that successfully achieved completion of the c£700m transaction within 41 days, in October 2016. I subsequently took on asset management responsibilities for the 58-train fleet being produced by renowned Swiss manufacturer, Stadler. I was also a… Show more Rock Rail was awarded preferred funder for Regional and Inter-City fleets for Abellio Greater Anglia, the company was awarded the Greater Anglia franchise by the Department for Transport in August 2016. As Senior Consultant, I was part of the bid team that successfully achieved completion of the c£700m transaction within 41 days, in October 2016. I subsequently took on asset management responsibilities for the 58-train fleet being produced by renowned Swiss manufacturer, Stadler. I was also a member of the bid team for Rock’s successful c£1 billion funding of new Bombardier trains for South Western. Show less

Nomad Digital is the leading global provider of passenger and fleet-management solutions to the rail industry. Headquartered in the UK, with more than 50 customers across the world, Nomad designs, builds, deploys and manages Passenger WiFi and Passenger Information systems. It also provides remote condition-based monitoring and maintenance solutions for optimising fleet management and operational performance.Following a restructure during early 2016, I became General Manager for the UK… Show more Nomad Digital is the leading global provider of passenger and fleet-management solutions to the rail industry. Headquartered in the UK, with more than 50 customers across the world, Nomad designs, builds, deploys and manages Passenger WiFi and Passenger Information systems. It also provides remote condition-based monitoring and maintenance solutions for optimising fleet management and operational performance.Following a restructure during early 2016, I became General Manager for the UK and Ireland taking on overall governance responsibility for Nomad’s single largest market, while retaining wider responsibilities across the rest of Europe and for global leadership for OEMs/Manufacturers. Show less

As a member of senior management, I held overall responsibility for Sales, Business Development and Relationship Management activities in the UK and Ireland and a wider brief that included expanded responsibilities in the rest of Europe. I was overall lead for bidding and new business development activity and lead negotiator on all major UK bids. The Role included global leadership of business development activities across the OEM/manufacturer community and cross-functional leadership and… Show more As a member of senior management, I held overall responsibility for Sales, Business Development and Relationship Management activities in the UK and Ireland and a wider brief that included expanded responsibilities in the rest of Europe. I was overall lead for bidding and new business development activity and lead negotiator on all major UK bids. The Role included global leadership of business development activities across the OEM/manufacturer community and cross-functional leadership and responsibility for resolution of current market and customer issues, government engagement and for raising market visibility and positioning Nomad Digital in the UK. Show less

As a member of the Rail Systems Executive, I headed up the Siemens Sales organisation in the UK and was accountable for the Sales performance of the Rail Systems Division. Overall responsibility for relationship management, business development and all sales activities, including tendering, major contract negotiations, variations and amendments in the new rolling stock, maintenance and service and modification and upgrade market sectors.

A member of the Hitachi Rail Europe Executive, headed up the Hitachi Rail Europe Sales and Commercial team with responsibility for the Business Development, Sales, Commercial and Strategic Planning activities of Hitachi's rail business in both the UK and Europe. Developed and implemented Hitachi Rail Europe's strategy for engagement in mainland Europe including the establishment of a regional office in Berlin.

Led a multi-functional team of Account Managers, Fleet Managers, Rolling Stock Engineers and Project Managers, responsible for all aspects of activities relating to HSBC's portfolio of Intercity and Freight rolling stock assets, working with customers and suppliers to maximise long term profitability of assets and minimise residual value risks.

Mba, Masters In Business Administration

Activities and Societies: Awarded the Director’s Prize for Project Management.

Apmp, Project Management

Goethe-Zertifikat B1 (Cef), German Language

Certifikované Zkoušky Z Češtiny Pro Cizince - Úroveň A2, Czech Language

Czech Language Certificate Exam Level A2

Dipm - Graduate Diploma In Marketing, Chartered Institute Of Marketing

Ba Hons, History