Business restructure aligns Fenix with global growth opportunities

A restructure of Fenix Signalling will allow it to build on the business’s strong offer to the rail industry worldwide and allow it to continue its growth trajectory.

Fenix Rail Systems will now comprise three companies with a focus on different international markets.

Craig Purcell, formerly managing director of Fenix Signalling, has become Chief Executive Officer of Fenix Rail Systems.

Fenix Signalling will continue to deliver Fenix’s innovative signalling, telecoms solutions and major project delivery in the UK, with Fenix also establishing group companies in Southeast Asia and Australasia, with new headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand and Darling Harbour, Sydney, Australia. The group’s headquarters will be located at its UK base in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Craig Purcell, Chief Executive Officer of Fenix Rail Systems, said: “Fenix will continue to grow and prosper and we are now set to meet the demands of the rail industry across the world as we continue to build a strong and sustainable business. We have an excellent reputation built on delivering a range of contracts of varying scale and complexity. We have the capability to provide fully joined up services to rail projects all over the world, a proven flexible delivery model, and global ambition.

“I am delighted with the growth we have enjoyed since we were established, look forward to delivering in Southeast Asia and Australasia and the appointments we have made to lead our new business divisions. This is a very exciting chapter in our story and this restructure will support our growth aspirations for the business.”

Steve McLaren, previously non-executive director of Fenix Signalling, will head up UK and Ireland operations as Managing Director.

Steve has extensive experience in the rail industry, spending more than 30 years with French transport giant Alstom, including seven years as Managing Director of Signalling Solutions Ltd, an Alstom/Balfour Beatty joint venture, which he managed from the concept in 2007 and grew to £200m per annum.

Eddie Murphy will take up the role of Project Director worldwide. Eddie’s wealth of experience spans over 25 years in the industry, both in the UK and at a number of worldwide destinations, focusing on project management and signal engineering consultancy during the last 10 years.

Fenix Southeast Asia will be led by Regional Director Peter Foxley, former managing director of recent Fenix acquisition MGBS. Peter has 37 years’ experience in the rail sector, starting with British Rail Western Region, based in Paddington. During 1999, he established his own business (Magnate Associates). Joining forces with Western Electrical in Plymouth in 2004, to form MGB Signalling (latterly MGB Engineering). By 2009, it was operating with a turnover in excess of £10 million, and this coincided with being granted a Principal Contractor License by Network Rail. In 2010, Mr Foxley decided to focus on growing a rail consultancy business internationally throughout the Southeast Asia and Australia rail markets.

Fenix Australasia will be led by Regional Director Mark Quintana, who has extensive experience of the rail industry in this sub region.

Mark Quintana has over 17 years’ experience in senior business development and leadership roles.

There are significant business opportunities for Fenix in Australasia. The Australian Government is delivering a $20 billion investment in rail to cut congestion in cities, grow the regions and boost the national economy and has also committed investment to support the development of business cases for faster rail connections between major cities and regional centres and is partnering with State Governments to progress transformative rail projects.

Fenix Southeast Asia will provide the region with a one-stop shop of rail systems services for clients at every stage of the infrastructure assets lifecycle, from concepts to operations and maintenance.

The new business will combine partners, skills and experience to offer something independent and unique to the international market. Partners in the delivery of projects, which will see Fenix Southeast Asia supporting main contractors, include Promelectronica and Tiefenbach. The acquisition of MGBS in Southeast Asia brings with it a client base that includes Hitachi, Ansaldo STS, George Kent (Malaysia) and Rail Systems Australia.

©2021 Fenix Rail Systems