Iain Coucher
Encyclopedia
Iain Michael Coucher is a former chief executive of Network Rail
.
and Leeds
, where his father, Brian, worked for the electricity generating board. He originally wanted to be an RAF
pilot.
Coucher attended Ashville College
, a boarding school in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. He boarded in Windermere House - part of Mallinson. Coucher was a good tennis player and represented the school tennis team.
After leaving Ashville in 1979, he attended Imperial College, London where he studied Aeronautical engineering
(1979–1982), gaining a BSc
. Later he completed an MBA
at Henley Management College (now called Henley Business School
and part of the University of Reading
).
), before moving into IT services with the American consultancy group EDS
in 1985 which led to working on the Oyster card
.
. Previously, he was Chief Executive of Tube Lines
from 1999–2001, one of the infrastructure companies under the London Underground public private partnership. He became Managing Director of Network Rail in 2002.
Network Rail paid Coucher an annual salary of £613,000.
He announced on 17 June 2010 that he would step down as Chief Executive of Network Rail stating that this was for personal reasons. He remained in situe while his successor was sought. Coucher officially left Network Rail on 29 October 2010. His successor, David Higgins, started on 1 February 2011.
He has recently been the subject of controversy regarding his management techniques and there has been in the past an internal examination by Network Rail of financial impropriety and bullying of Network Rail staff due to exposure by national newspapers and the Transport Salaried Staff Association (TSSA). Currently, as at 29 January 2011, an independent enquiry headed by Anthony White QC will further examine these claims. This has been agreed to by his former employer and TSSA.
, Northamptonshire
and lists his car as an Aston Martin DB9
. He married Tanya Nightingale in July 1993 in North Yorkshire
Executive. He was previously married. He enjoys cycling and birdwatching.
Network Rail
Network Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland...
.
Early life
He was brought up in DoncasterDoncaster
Doncaster is a town in South Yorkshire, England, and the principal settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster. The town is about from Sheffield and is popularly referred to as "Donny"...
and Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, where his father, Brian, worked for the electricity generating board. He originally wanted to be an RAF
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
pilot.
Coucher attended Ashville College
Ashville College
Ashville College is a co-educational independent school for both day and boarding pupils aged 4–18 in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England. It was founded as a Methodist boarding school for boys in 1877, and subsequently merged with Elmfield College and New College in the 1930s...
, a boarding school in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. He boarded in Windermere House - part of Mallinson. Coucher was a good tennis player and represented the school tennis team.
After leaving Ashville in 1979, he attended Imperial College, London where he studied Aeronautical engineering
Aerospace engineering
Aerospace engineering is the primary branch of engineering concerned with the design, construction and science of aircraft and spacecraft. It is divided into two major and overlapping branches: aeronautical engineering and astronautical engineering...
(1979–1982), gaining a BSc
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
. Later he completed an MBA
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
at Henley Management College (now called Henley Business School
Henley Business School
The Henley Business School at the University of Reading is an English triple accredited business school, and the first business school to be established in the United Kingdom. It was formed by merging the previously independent Henley Management College, formerly the Administrative Staff College,...
and part of the University of Reading
University of Reading
The University of Reading is a university in the English town of Reading, Berkshire. The University was established in 1892 as University College, Reading and received its Royal Charter in 1926. It is based on several campuses in, and around, the town of Reading.The University has a long tradition...
).
Career
He started his working life as an air-to-ground missile designer for Hunting Engineering from 1982 (since 2001 known as INSYSINSYS
INSYS Ltd is a British defence contractor, located in Ampthill, Bedfordshire. INSYS is a leading UK defence contractor supplying integrated system solutions to the UK and allied armed forces directly or through global prime contractors. It was formed by a management buy-out of Hunting Engineering...
), before moving into IT services with the American consultancy group EDS
Electronic Data Systems
HP Enterprise Services is the global business and technology services division of Hewlett Packard's HP Enterprise Business strategic business unit. It was formed by the combination of HP's legacy services consulting and outsourcing business and the integration of acquired Electronic Data Systems,...
in 1985 which led to working on the Oyster card
Oyster card
The Oyster card is a form of electronic ticketing used on public transport services within the Greater London area of the United Kingdom. It is promoted by Transport for London and is valid on a number of different travel systems across London including London Underground, buses, the Docklands...
.
Network Rail
He became Chief Executive in July 2007 following the retirement of Chief Executive John ArmittJohn Armitt
John Alexander Armitt, CBE FREng , is the Chairman of the Olympic Delivery Authority, the body charged with building the venues, facilities and infrastructure for the 2012 Olympic Games. The appointment commenced on 1 September 2007.He is also Chairman of the Engineering and Physical Sciences...
. Previously, he was Chief Executive of Tube Lines
Tube Lines
Tube Lines Limited, initially known as 'Infraco JNP', has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Transport for London since May 2010. Tube Lines is an asset-management company responsible for the maintenance, renewal and upgrade of the infrastructure, including track, trains, signals, civil work and...
from 1999–2001, one of the infrastructure companies under the London Underground public private partnership. He became Managing Director of Network Rail in 2002.
Network Rail paid Coucher an annual salary of £613,000.
He announced on 17 June 2010 that he would step down as Chief Executive of Network Rail stating that this was for personal reasons. He remained in situe while his successor was sought. Coucher officially left Network Rail on 29 October 2010. His successor, David Higgins, started on 1 February 2011.
He has recently been the subject of controversy regarding his management techniques and there has been in the past an internal examination by Network Rail of financial impropriety and bullying of Network Rail staff due to exposure by national newspapers and the Transport Salaried Staff Association (TSSA). Currently, as at 29 January 2011, an independent enquiry headed by Anthony White QC will further examine these claims. This has been agreed to by his former employer and TSSA.
Personal life
Married with a son (born February 1995) and daughter (born June 1998), Coucher lives in DaventryDaventry
Daventry is a market town in Northamptonshire, England, with a population of 22,367 .-Geography:The town is also the administrative centre of the larger Daventry district, which has a population of 71,838. The town is 77 miles north-northwest of London, 13.9 miles west of Northampton and 10.2...
, Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
and lists his car as an Aston Martin DB9
Aston Martin DB9
-DB9 Volante:The Aston Martin DB9 Volante is the convertible version of the DB9 coupe. It is built by hand in limited numbers and has enhanced styling. It is powered by the same 6.0 litre, DOHC 48 valve V12 as the DB9 and is completed with 470 bhp and a top speed of 186 mph...
. He married Tanya Nightingale in July 1993 in North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
Executive. He was previously married. He enjoys cycling and birdwatching.