A former CEO at ANS Group has been handed the top job at Trainline plc.
Ian Brown will succeed Jody Ford, who has doubled net ticket sales at the rail travel platform and overseen growth in new markets in France, Spain and Italy during his six years in charge.
Brown will assume the role and join the board with effect from 28th September 2026.
Most recently, he was CEO of the UK & Ireland division of Flutter Entertainment Plc, the Irish-American parent company of Betfair, FanDuel, Paddy Power, PokerStars, Sky Betting & Gaming and Sportsbet which is listed both in New York and London.
At Flutter he delivered sustained double-digit growth but left as part of a restructuring of the firm. Prior to this, he was CEO of Manchester cloud and digital transformation provider ANS Group and, previously, CEO of the Trips business unit at Booking.com.
Ford succeeded Clare Gilmartin as CEO of Trainline in 2021. Formerly COO, he had previously held the role of CEO at Photobox Group, encompassing the Moonpig and Photobox brands, and led global growth at eBay.
“Ian brings a strong track record in scaling digital platforms and marketplace businesses, with significant experience in online travel. I look forward to working closely with Ian to build on the momentum Trainline has generated as Europe’s leading rail app,” said chair Brian McBride.
“On behalf of the board, I would also like to thank Jody for his leadership and exceptional contribution to Trainline. Under his tenure, the company has delivered significant growth, strengthened its market position and built strong foundations for future success.”
Brown commented: “Trainline has built a strong customer proposition by continually innovating to make rail travel easier for millions of people across the UK and Europe. It is a business with real purpose, scale and significant opportunities ahead.
“I am delighted to be joining it and look forward to working with the Board and colleagues across the business to build on its strong track record and deliver the next phase of growth.”