The Newcastle-headquartered Go-Ahead Group has appointed a new chief financial officer.

Patrick Butcher joins the company from Network Rail, where he has been group finance director since 2009, leading capital raising activities in public markets for the organisation prior to its reclassification last year as a public sector company.

Butcher brings extensive industry experience to the position, having held finance director roles at English, Welsh and Scottish Railways as well as Mapeley, London Underground and Kings College Hospital.

His early career was spent at Deloitte & Touche as a management consultant and auditor.

Until recently, Butcher was also a member of the British Transport Police Authority.

He will join the Group by May 2016, and to ensure an orderly transition, Go-Ahead’s Financial Controller, Paul Edwards, will become Interim group finance director following Keith Down’s departure on November 13th.

Group chief executive David Brown said: “I am delighted that Patrick is joining the group and look forward to working alongside him.

“He will be an excellent addition to the Go-Ahead team, bringing strong financial management capabilities as well as significant transport sector and stakeholder experience.”

Go-Ahead is a leading UK public transport operator, providing both bus and rail services.