Northern adds to IT team with new head of architecture

Lombard took up the role earlier this month and reports-in to head of IT, David Sparling, who joined the train operator in April.

As head of architecture, he will be responsible for the team tasked with developing new solutions to software challenges and creating a long-term sustainable structure to support that work.

Lombard, who was born in Zimbabwe and lives in Skipton (North Yorkshire), has a degree in computer science from The University of Johannesburg.

Prior to joining Northern, he worked for Anchor, the UK's largest provider of housing and care for people over the age of 55 and Anglo American, a multi-national mining company.

David Sparling, head of IT at Northern, said: “The IT challenges of a business the size and scale of Northern make this a really interesting role - and John will be a great asset to the team as we future-proof our IT estate.”

John Lombard added: “I’m excited to get stuck-in and work with my team of IT architects to ensure the best possible solutions to the issues facing our colleagues across the North of England.”

Northern is the second largest train operator in the UK, with nearly 2,500 services a day to more than 500 stations across the North of England.