Helen Waters and Richard Aitken join Steer Davies Gleave

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Helen Waters and Richard Aitken, who join the firm to strengthen our offer in rail operations, rolling stock and innovation. 

Helen Waters joins as an Associate Director. Helen will lead the expansion of Steer Davies Gleave’s capabilities in these areas to both the firm’s existing and new rail clients. 

She brings significant industry knowledge, predominantly in the rail sector, with varied experience including Train Operating Company (TOC) operations as Production Director for a UK InterCity operator; franchise bidding for a range of TOC bids; front line operations management of drivers, train crew and station staff; as well as rolling stock specification, procurement and project management experience.

Most recently Helen has led Innovation delivery for a major UK owning group achieving success in grant funding, technology development and application to customer-facing deployment. Helen has also managed an innovative SME within the bus sector.

Richard Aitken, who joins Steer Davies Gleave as an Associate, has worked with some of the UK’s largest and busiest rail and urban transit networks, with experience across a wide range of operational focuses, including train planning, rolling stock, service delivery and performance improvement. 

Richard joins Steer Davies Gleave from Keolis, where he has led and supported several bids and projects from an operational perspective, including the TransPennine Express franchise tender and the successful TfGM Metrolink tram contract. He also helped support GTR – the UK’s largest train operator – improve the performance of its 3,000 daily services.

Richard previously spent five years in operations management for the DLR in east London, leading the development of timetables, resource plans and ensuring the railway was prepared to support large events, such as those at ExCeL, the London Marathon and the 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games in London.

Jim Richards, Director of Rail at Steer Davies Gleave said: “We are delighted to welcome Helen and Richard to Steer Davies Gleave, adding significant experience to our great team”.