Mary Grant jumps aboard National Express

Former ScotRail boss Mary Grant is returning to the transport sector with a senior role at National Express.

Grant, who previously worked with National Express in the UK and Australia in the late 1990s, is best known as the managing director of ScotRail who led the successful FirstGroup bidding team in 2004.

She joined the high street in early 2012 as chief executive of the 600 store chain Phones4U.

Her new role as managing director for business development will initially see her work on international growth opportunities. But next year she is expected to focus on opportunities in UK rail.

That suggests National Express, which was heavily criticised for abandoning the East Coast Main Line franchise in 2009, may be preparing to bid for another rail service.