Management Team
Andrew Pierce
David Swadling
Damian Webber
Daniel Cohen MICM
Mark McGovern BEng. CEng. MIEE
Andy Empson
David Scholz BEng MEng MIET
Jim Radcliffe CMIOSH, MIIRSM, MCIPD
Mike Davis Grad IOSH, MIIRSM, Dip SM
Danny Lyonette BEng(Hons), BA(Hons)
Mike Richardson
Robin Lawrence MIEEE
Martin Avis TMIET
Clare Gerlach

Andrew Pierce, Managing Director
Andrew is the son of High Voltage Maintenance Services founder Roger Pierce. Having completed his BTEC ONC/HNC with British Telecom Andrew joined the family business and has nearly twenty years experience working in all areas of HVMS. Andrew took over stewardship of the business following an MBO and retirement of Roger Pierce in 2004 and has since ensured its +300% growth.

David Swadling, Commercial Director
Like Andrew, David completed his BTEC ONC/HNC Apprenticeship but within the Aerospace and Defence industry, before moving in to the Transmission and Distribution sector in 1991 with first Lindley Thompson Transformers, then Schneider Electric Commercial Division where he was responsible for group sales to the major Distribution Network Operators in the South East. More recently David worked as National Sales Manager for ABB Power Technology and Business Development Manager for AREVA T&D before joining HVMS in 2005 to develop HVMS’s strategic growth and more specifically its project capability.

Damian Webber, Operations Director
Damian started his working career as a professional footballer before retiring through injury in 1999. He entered the rail industry the same year with Foxboro GB Ltd working on the West Coast Route SCADA upgrade. Damian joined Trakside Systems Ltd (TSL) in 2002 firstly as a Project Manager and then Operations Director, eventually becoming the Managing Director of TSL in 2007. It was in this role that Damian has overseen the successful development of the TSL business managing significant growth of +300% and has worked alongside Andrew and David in strategically planning the integration of the two businesses for which he now has total operation control.

Daniel Cohen MICM, Utility Networks General Manager
Daniel started with London Electricity in 1991 before joining HVMS from 24Seven (now EDF Energy) in 2003 bringing a wealth of Asset Management and Finance experience to HVMS. Daniel has been instrumental in growing the HVMS Utilities portfolio principally with EDF Energy and other DNOs. He is responsible for the day to day operations of the Utilities business with the assistance of his delivery team managers. Daniel continues to be very well respected by all levels of EDF Energy Networks.

Mark McGovern BEng. CEng. MIEE, Engineering Manager
Mark completed his Bachelors Degree in Electrical & Electronic Engineering at Salford University sponsored by British Steel and has extensive industry experience, having been a Senior Authorised Engineer since 1991 working in the Steel and Cement Industries. Mark made the move into the Utility Sector in 2001 with EDF Energy where he has undertaken a variety of 11-132kV construction projects. Mark has responsibility as the company authorising engineer, and has overall engineering responsibility for all HVMS operational activities in Private and Public Networks profit centres.

Andy Empson, HVMS North General Manager
Andy has recently (June 2010) joined HVMS from Integrated Utility Services (IUS) where he worked as their General Manager of the rail section having overall responsibility for the growth and safe delivery of electrical renewal works from design through to hand-over. Andy has been brought in to establish a new HVMS office based in York to replicate our business model of operating in Private, Public and Rail Networks in the North of England. Andy’s experience from IUS and previously 20 years in Yorkshire Electricity will surely help ensure the success of this new venture.

David Scholz BEng MEng MIET, Rail Design Manager
David is a hugely respected Design Manager with a wealth of railway experience having started his career in the late 80’s with the South African Rail operator Spoornet. David spent the next decade working in South African rail industry in various electrical engineering and senior management roles before moving to the UK in 2002 and taking up a lead consulting role for Enotrac which would see his time split between Australia and UK working on various rail infrastructure projects. David has worked for Network Rail and Tube Lines Ltd as a senior design engineer developing technical workscopes for primary rail upgrade works before finally joining TSL in January 2009 as the Rail Design Manager, allowing TSL to take all rail design elements in-house.

Jim Radcliffe CMIOSH, MIIRSM, MCIPD, Health, Safety & Environmental Consultant for Private and Public Networks
Jim joined HVMS full time in 2007 having worked part time at HVMS for the previous year. Jim has been involved in the Electricity Industry since 1975 performing various roles at Grain and Kingsnorth Power Stations and is a highly experienced Safety professional .He is also involved in training personnel who are seeking professional qualifications in H&S via the NEBOSH Certificate and Diploma route.

Mike Davis Grad IOSH, MIIRSM, Dip SM, Rail QA & Health, Safety & Environmental Manager
Mike spent the first 23 years of his working career with British Rail having started as a time served apprentice, latterly working in health and safety roles. Mike joined TSL in 2005 and was instrumental in ensuring the quality assurance, health, safety and environmental systems met the satisfaction of Network Rail, NICEIC and other auditing organisations. Mike’s eagerness to continue his professional development is still as strong today as he is in the final stages of an MSc in Occupational and Environmental Health & Safety Management.

Danny Lyonette BEng(Hons), BA(Hons), Rail Commercial Manager
Danny is another time served apprentice having completed an ONC/HNC with GEC. Danny continued his professional development sponsored by GEC (who became Alstom and finally AREVA) and completed his BEng in Electrical & Electronic Engineering as well as a BA in Business Administration. With an excellent grounding in protection and control as an Applications Engineer Danny went in to the Commercial side of AREVA initially in the Oil & Gas sector before taking responsibility for the Industry segment nationally. Danny joined TSL in 2008 to develop the sales strategy and achieve growth for TSL in the rail sector.

Mike Richardson, Rail Operations Manager
Mike is another time served apprentice having completed his ONC/HNC in Mechanical & Production Engineering. Having begun his working career in calibration/testing within industrial end users Mike moved in to project management initially within manufacturing sector before joining TSL in 2007. Throughout his career Mike has demonstrated a professional and analytical mind to project management having completed Prince 2, Microsoft Project Master Class, Six Sigma, and Employment Law training courses. Mike has significantly contributed toward business process improvements and new systems implementation which has helped enormously to help manage and control the growth undertaken by TSL in recent years.

Robin Lawrence MIEEE, Rail Contractors Responsible Engineer
Robin is an ex-London Electricity Board indentured apprentice who went on to become an LE ‘Senior Authorised Person’. Robin has backed up his operational experience by becoming NEBOSH and IOSH qualified in a career that has seen him work on CHP schemes and power plants in Pakistan, Canada and the U.S. with SNC Lavalin before returning to the UK with Network Rail as a commissioning engineer. Robin therefore has vast experience on numerous protection & control equipment as well as electro-mechanical plant. Robin has been a Network Rail HV cable assessor and a Category ’A’ Person (SAP) since 2004 and is hugely respected in the rail industry.

Martin Avis TMIET, Private Networks Operations Manager
Martin joined HVMS in March 2008 having served his five year advanced apprenticeship with a high voltage maintenance and installation company. Martin has gained significant experience in high and low voltage applications including cable jointing, switching and plant maintenance. Martin has completed C&G courses in Electrical Installation and High Voltage Operational Safety and is currently undertaking an HNC in Electrical & Electronic Engineering. Since joining HVMS Martin completed his IOSH Safety Management course and Environmental NVQ’s as well as becoming authorised as a ‘Senior Authorised Person’ under HVMS Distribution Safety Rules.

Clare Gerlach, Financial Controller
Clare joined TSL as Finance Manager & Company Secretary in 2004 having previously held senior financial positions with Ericsson Telecommunications, Business Support Centre and Southern Water. As Financial Controller of both HVMS and TSL Clare has aligned our financial systems, driven business improvement objectives and ensured the success of the ‘shared service centre’ based in the Crawley office which supports both operational businesses.