A bright future for North East public transport
Cathy Massarella, managing director of Nexus, is leading the organisation into a bright new era. Here, Cathy tells N magazine of her excitement at delivering the new Tyne and Wear Metro trains, and her commitment to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace culture in a traditionally male-dominated sector.
March 27, 2025
The Tyne and Wear Metro is one of our region’s most familiar brands.
For more than 40 years, it has been at the heart of local public transport, carrying millions of people to places of work, leisure and education.
It’s a key driver of social mobility and connectivity.
Nexus is the public body that runs Metro, and Cathy Massarella became managing director in 2024.
She is the first woman to hold the role.
After graduating from Liverpool University with a degree in economics and accounting, Cathy completed an initial four-year stint in banking and finance.
However, since then, her career has focused on everything public transport.
She has managed the operational and project delivery of bus and ferry services, heavy and light rail operations, transport infrastructure, ICT and information provision in both the private and public sectors.
Only airlines are missing from her portfolio.
As a qualified and practising project manager, she became Nexus’ first major projects director in 2020 and is now managing director, overseeing a multi-million-pound budget and all of the transport services that Nexus delivers, not least the Metro system.
She says: “I’m proud to be managing director of Nexus, and excited to lead the organisation into what I see is a very bright future.
“Nexus has a vital role to play in the transformation of public transport networks.
“I’m working closely with the North East Combined Authority, our key stakeholders, local authority partners and the wider transport industry to deliver more for the people who rely on our services,” says Cathy, who is originally from Doncaster.
She adds: “Good public transport is key to our region’s success, helping to deliver jobs and economic growth, and providing vital links across our local communities.
“This is an exciting time as we press ahead with the introduction of the new Metro trains, which are going to be transformative for customers in terms of comfort and reliability.
“Bringing this historic project to fruition is a key aim over the next two years.
“As well as the huge investment in our new Metro fleet, we continue our ongoing investment in our Metro infrastructure, with the next major focus being a new signalling system, to ensure the continued safe and smooth running of our trains long into the future.
“We’ve spent more than £400 million since 2010 on renewing and updating Metro infrastructure, and I’m keen to see that continue.
“Working with the North East Combined Authority, extending the Metro to Washington, remains a strategic goal.
“I look forward to seeing the business case develop as we seek Government backing for what would be a transformative project, and the first step in resurrecting the Leamside Line.”
On track
The new Metro train fleet is the biggest project Nexus has undertaken since the system was opened in 1980.
Nexus is getting 46 new Metro trains, built by the Swiss manufacturer Stadler.
Cathy says: “The introduction of the fleet is going well.
“We expect to see them all in service over the next two years.
“The new trains are a game-changer; they will deliver greater reliability and revolutionise the customer experience.”
Bright future
Cathy says it is the people behind Nexus that are key to its success, and she is currently focused on creating an engaged, inclusive and agile workplace culture that welcomes and retains the best talent.
She says: “Our focus is shifting, from talking about transport and networks, to prioritising people, both the people who use our transport and the people whose skill and dedication keeps them running.
“Engaged and involved colleagues offer a better service and experience to our customers, and that’s ultimately what it’s all about.
“Our approach is defined by our people and culture strategy, and our diversity and inclusion strategy, which have been developed with colleagues.
“Despite being a very male-dominated industry, female senior leadership has increased at Nexus from zero to 40 per cent since 2020 – a stat I’m particularly proud of.
“A new approach to employer branding, resourcing and onboarding has also been positively felt across Nexus.
“We have been able to attract and hire employees from a diverse range of industries.
“Our apprentices are performing incredibly well and there have been more career pathways developed through secondments, promotions and project work.
“Our future certainly is bright.”
Nexus
www.nexus.org.uk
@My_Metro
March 27, 2025
- Promoted