Vital

• Name: Gary Hardaker
• Joined Vital: 2004
• Managing Director

Gary holds a BSc degree in Computing and Mathematical Science and is a member of the Institute of Asset Management. Becoming Managing Director in January 2007 and, having previously been responsible for Business Improvement, he has a proven and successful track record in the delivery of complex business transformation projects, coupled with over 15 years of rail experience. He has overall responsibility for operational, safety and financial issues and sits on the main board; allowing him to interface and assist with the with group's growth.

• Name: Mohammed Ajaz
• Joined Vital: 1999
• Director

Graduating with a Masters degree from UMIST, Mohammed joined Vital in 1999. He has extensive experience of delivering high profile recruitment projects both in the UK and overseas. His business recruits talented engineering candidates for clients and has developed a team of professionals whose ethos is completely client focused. Prior to joining Vital, Mohammed held a senior position in Management Consultancy.

• Name: Jeff Maitland
• Joined Vital: 2005
• Director

Jeff is a former Network Rail Asset Protection Engineer, British Rail Chief Estate Surveyor, and North West Secretary of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors/SST NW Regional Committee. Appointed External Works Director in 2005, Jeff has drawn upon his extensive knowledge and long-term experience of railway procedures and practices to enable the Division offer the highest quality engineering consultation and surveying services in connection with outside party works on or adjacent to the operational railway infrastructure.

• Name: Alan Houghton
• Joined Vital: 1983
• Director

Alan is a Civil / Structural Engineer and joined Vital Rail in 2000. He has held the position of Director within the group’s Engineering and Construction business, Vital Resources, since 1987. In his early career he worked for Consulting Engineers and as a Design Engineer in the offshore Oil & Gas sector gaining specialist knowledge of marine works, heavy lifting and transportation. In his current role Alan is responsible for Vital Rail’s Track, PWay and ATWS operations in Scotland as well as UK responsibility for Welding. Alan is also acting SQE Director. He became a Member of the ICE Railway Civil Engineer’s Association in 2004.

• Name: Paul Crompton
• Joined Vital: 2005
• Director

Joining Vital Rail in 2005 as a Senior Project Manager, Paul was subsequently promoted to Operations Director in 2006, where he managed and developed Vitals London Underground business. Paul commenced his railway career in 1995 following his graduation from Salford University with a BEng (Hons) degree in Civil Engineering. Prior to joining Vital, Paul worked on a number of major projects in both a client and contractor capacity; these include the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, Heathrow Express and various London Underground renewals programmes. Paul currently holds the position of Regional Director South.

• Name: Nick Baxter
• Joined Vital: 1992
• Director

Nick was appointed Regional Director for Vital Rail in 2008, moving from the group’s Engineering and Construction business Vital Resources, where he held a similar post. Nick spent his early career in building services recruitment before expanding into the construction and civil engineering sectors in the late 90’s.  He formed a rail civils business in 2003 which focused on lineside civils and station and depot work, supported by Vital Rail’s Link up approvals and operating procedures.  This business grew quickly and soon encompassed protection staff and with this expansion into the rail sector it came as a natural progression that Nick moved fully to the group’s rail business.