Hanson & Hall Rail Services Solutions Ltd has announced the appointment of Paul Willerton as its new Managing Director. Willerton, who joined the company at the start of 2023, steps up from his previous role as Head of Human Resources Planning and Talent Acquisition. He succeeds Jason Hall, the founder of the business, in the top position.
After a period of significant expansion for the company, founder Jason Hall has made the decision to step back from the day-to-day leadership of the business to dedicate more time to his family and personal interests. Under Hall’s guidance, the company experienced substantial growth, notably overseeing major mothballing programmes during the Covid-19 pandemic and successfully securing an Operator’s Licence for both freight and passenger operations in 2021 and 2022. Recognising the evolving landscape of the rail industry, Hall believes that new leadership with fresh vision and energy is essential to propel the business into its next phase of development. He will remain an integral part of the operational team, focusing on his passion for train planning and operation and maintaining the strong relationships he has cultivated with the company’s clients.
Incoming Managing Director Paul Willerton brings a wealth of experience from across the rail industry, spanning depot operations, project leadership, business development, operations, and Human Resources management. In his new role, Willerton will concentrate on strengthening industry relationships to facilitate continued growth in the company’s core services and explore diversification into new products and service offerings.
Paul Willerton commented on his appointment: “I am honoured to become Managing Director of Hanson & Hall Rail Services Solutions Ltd, and I’m grateful to Jason and the management team for the opportunity to drive this company’s growth at an exciting time for the UK rail sector. I’m looking forward to building upon the relationships with our fantastic customer base, and to forging new partnerships as we expand our Rail Services offering.”
He further added, “There’s a great team here, and the combined expertise and experience gives me the confidence that we can continue to deliver beyond our customers’ expectations.”
