EUROSTAR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Clare Hollingsworth, Chairman
Clare Hollingsworth became non-executive Chairman of Eurostar in July 2013, having first joined the Eurostar board as a non-executive director in 2010. She is also a non-executive director of Molnlycke AB, a Swedish medical technology company, as well as the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA). Prior to holding these non-executive positions, Clare was CEO of Spire Healthcare and its predecessor business, BUPA Hospitals, and Managing Director of Caledonian Airways.
Mike Cooper, Chief Executive Officer
Mike became CEO of Eurostar in March 2018, having been CEO of Yodel and Deputy CEO and MD Mainland Europe of Arriva where he led the European transport business with responsibility for rail, bus and trams across 13 countries. Prior to Arriva, Mike was Chief Commercial Officer of EasyJet from its flotation in 2000 until 2005. Before EasyJet, he was MD, Portland Travel, part of the Thomson Travel Group
James Cheesewright, Chief Financial Officer
James joined Eurostar in August 2010, just as the company was established as a single, unified corporate entity.
He joined from Misys Plc, the banking and healthcare software provider, where he enjoyed a number of senior general management and finance roles, most recently as Group Vice President, Corporate Finance and including leading the Banking and Risk Management software divisions. Prior to Misys, James spent 12 years at Cable & Wireless Plc, the international telecommunications provider, in both senior general management and finance roles, including six years overseas.
Nicholas Mercer, Commercial Director
Nick joined Eurostar in 2003 as Commercial Director. He has 30 years business experience having previously held Sales and Marketing Director positions at Air Miles (now called Avios), Misys, First Direct and Sky (for their interactive TV service). He started his career in the airline industry. As Commercial Director Nick has overall responsibility for sales, pricing and revenue management, marketing and distribution including eurostar.com and the Eurostar Contact Centre. Nick serves as a member of the Eurostar International Board.
Gareth Williams, Strategy Director and Company Secretary
Gareth joined Eurostar in June 2011 from the Department for Transport (DfT), bringing with him 20 years' experience in UK government and an in-depth knowledge of the rail industry. Gareth leads on the development and appraisal of Eurostar’s strategic choices and new business proposals, as well as all regulatory matters, working alongside other business functions to advise on issues affecting Eurostar where government legislation or industry regulation is involved. In addition, Gareth heads up the Legal team and serves the Eurostar board as Company Secretary.
Susanne Given
Susanne works with early-stage and fast-growth digital consumer brands across a number of industries. She has recently been appointed non-executive chairman of VC-backed Push Doctor, the largest European online GP surgery, and she is also non-executive chairman of Made.com. She is a member of the Tritax Big Box REIT Plc board, and also works with early-stage founders at Wayra Startup Accelerator. Susanne has more than 20 years’ experience in the consumer sector, most recently as COO for SuperGroup Plc, Director of Fashion & Beauty at John Lewis, and Managing Director of TK Maxx UK/Ireland. Prior to that she was General Merchandise Director for Harrods.
Olivier Fortin
Olivier Fortin joined the Eurostar board in 2015, and is a Director at CDPQ Paris - a subsidy of Caisse de Dépôt et Placement du Québec (CDPQ). Olivier has a wealth of experience within the infrastructure asset class in the UK and continental Europe, with regulated and non-regulated assets. He currently sits on the board of South East Water Limited and Heathrow Airport Holdings Limited (alternate).
Jean-Baptiste Guenot
Jean-Baptiste Guenot joined the Eurostar board in 2015. Jean-Baptiste is Head of Development for the SNCF Group. He began his career as an Investment Banker in Paris and Hong Kong, and prior to his current role, was Head of Mergers and Acquisitions for the SNCF Group. Jean-Baptiste is also acts as non-executive director on various boards as well as in Investment Committees of Private Equity Funds.
Denis Hennequin
Denis Hennequin joined the Eurostar board in 2012. Denis is the former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Accor, the worldwide hotel group with over 3,500 hotels in 92 countries. Denis began his career at McDonald's and prior to joining Accor was President of McDonald's Europe responsible for 6,600 restaurants in 40 countries.
Michel Jadot
Michel Jadot joined SNCB in 1977 and spent time in many varying roles in Belgium, Europe, Asia and the Baltic countries, including Head of European Sales Market and Commercial Manager of the SNCB-HST projects. He was nominated Deputy Managing Director of Thalys International from 1995-2003, before returning to SNCB in his role as General Manager of the Passengers department. He became Director of SNCB Europe in 2007. Michel is Chairman of the Thalys International board and of the newly created Railway Undertaking THI Factory board. Michel was named Marketer of the Year in 2000 and is an Ambassador of the the Brussels-Capital region tourist board.
Heidi Mottram
Heidi Mottram joined the Eurostar board in 2014. She was appointed to the Northumbrian Water Group and Northumbrian Water Limited Boards as Chief Executive Officer on 1 April 2010. Heidi began her career with British Rail in the mid 1980s. She held a number of roles in GNER, before joining Midland Mainline in 1999 as Operations Director. She was Commercial Director for Arriva Trains Northern from January 2004, before becoming Managing Director of Northern Rail Limited, the UK’s largest rail franchise. Heidi was named Rail Business Manager of the Year in 2009 for being an “inspirational leader”, and was awarded an OBE in the New Year honours list 2010, for services to the rail industry. She is currently Chair of the CBI North East Regional Council, a member of the CBI Infrastructure board and a Council member of Newcastle University.
Patrick Bastien
Patrick Bastien joined the Eurostar board in 2017, and is a Director at CDPQ Paris, a subsidiary of Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec. He currently also sits on the Supervisory Board of Keolis, a leader in public transport operations. Patrick began his career in the water sector with Suez in the early 1990s, and has subsequently held senior management positions with other strategic investors, as well as with some financial investors across the infrastructure space in Europe and North America.
Rachel Picard
Rachel joined the Eurostar board in 2015. Rachel is CEO of Voyages SNCF, which has a fleet of 475 trains and carries 129 million passengers. Her portfolio of activities also includes several SNCF subsidiaries, such as OUIGO, iDTGV and iDBUS, and she is Chairman of France's leading e Commerce site Voyages SNCF.com. She uses her leadership to further her “reinventing TGV” project, which aims to increase revenues and traffic, achieve performance on a competitive market, and transform the passenger experience.
Laurent Trévisani
Laurent Trévisani joined the Eurostar board in May 2015. Laurent is Chief Finance and Development Officer for SNCF and Chief Executive Officer of SNCF Participations. Prior to this, he was Director of Strategy at SNCF and Deputy Managing Director of Strategy and Finance of the Proximités Branch and CEO of a freight affiliate. Laurent began his career at Arthur Andersen and also worked for Elf Aquitaine prior to SNCF.
Odile Fagot
Odile Fagot joined the Eurostar Board in 2017. She has developed high level expertise in managing change, both in operational and functional fields at SNCF over the past 20 years. She was formerly Regional Trains Director in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais area of France, and Deputy CEO in charge of Finance and Purchasing at SNCF Reseau. She is currently leading the Finance Transformation Program at SNCF. Odile started her career at Arthur Andersen as a Senior Manager in industry and commerce, prior to joining SNCF.
Antoine de Rocquigny
Antoine de Rocquigny joined the Eurostar board in February 2018. Antoine is currently Director Finances Strategy Legal Affairs, within Voyages SNCF. He was formerly in charge of Operations and Customer Service from 2013 to September 2016. Prior to this, he worked for the French Minister of Budget as Deputy chief of staff.