Merseyrail has appointed Suzanne Grant as Interim Managing Director, with the long-serving executive set to lead the operator while current Managing Director Neil Grabham takes up an interim leadership role at East Midlands Railway.
Grant will oversee the business until April 2027, providing continuity as Grabham temporarily leaves the Liverpool City Region operator to support EMR.
Long-serving leader steps up
Grant has spent more than a decade at Merseyrail, joining the business as Marketing Manager in 2012 before progressing through a series of senior leadership roles, including Commercial Director. She was appointed Chief Commercial Officer and Deputy Managing Director in 2024.
During her time with the operator, she has led a number of customer-focused initiatives, helped shape Merseyrail’s commercial strategy and worked closely with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, including supporting the rollout of the Tap & Go ticketing system in 2025.
As Interim Managing Director, Grant will focus on maintaining operational performance while continuing to deliver improvements for passengers across the network.
Suzanne Grant said: “I am very proud to be taking on the role of Interim Managing Director at Merseyrail. This is a business I care deeply about, and I know how much pride our colleagues take in delivering a railway that matters to the communities we serve.
“My focus for the next eight months will be on providing stability and continuity for our people, our passengers and our partners, while continuing to build on the progress already being made across the network.”
Continuity during leadership transition
Neil Grabham said he had full confidence in Grant’s ability to lead the business during his temporary secondment.
He said: “Suzanne knows Merseyrail, our people and our customers exceptionally well, and I have complete confidence in her ability to guide the business through this interim period.
“She has made a significant contribution to Merseyrail over many years and brings strong commercial experience, sound judgement and a clear focus on delivering for passengers. I know the business will be in very capable hands.”
Grant’s appointment ensures continuity at Merseyrail during a period of leadership transition, with the operator continuing to focus on delivering reliable services and enhancing the customer experience across the Liverpool City Region network.
