Rail operator Abellio U.K. has appointed its first-ever general counsel.

Edward Walker, previously interim general counsel at Vivo Energy, has joined the company, which operates five rail franchises.

Walker had previously spent 10 years at heating business Ferguson, including as general counsel of its Nordic business. Most recently, he acted as interim general counsel at Vivo Energy.

According to Abellio U.K., the company provides services for more than a million rail and bus passengers daily in England and Scotland. It operates five rail franchises – ScotRail, MerseyRail, East Midlands Railway, West Midlands Trains and Greater Anglia – and employs 17,000 people.

Walker said in a statement: "I look forward to working with the Abellio team in the UK as the whole sector moves through Covid-19 and positions itself for the future. It is a very exciting time to join Abellio in this new role. I am looking forward to establishing a new legal function that supports Abellio to meet these new challenges."