Trainline refreshes Executive Leadership team to accelerate AI-powered tech and product innovation

15 April 2025 at 10:05 (GMT) Download PDF

Mike Hyde is appointed as CTO whilst Nina de Souza joins to lead product innovation as CPO

Trainline, Europe's #1 rail travel platform, today affirmed its commitment to innovation, placing artificial intelligence (AI) and cutting-edge technology at the core of its strategic vision, with new appointments to its Executive Leadership team.

Over the last 25 years, Trainline has cemented its legacy as a tech-enabled first mover and is now gearing up for its next chapter of growth, reinforcing its Executive Leadership team with two key appointments aimed at accelerating innovation by placing AI at the heart of its strategy and enhancing its product and technology offerings.

Previously Chief Data Officer at Trainline, Mike Hyde's role has expanded to Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Mike will now oversee both the Technology and Data teams, with a clear focus on embedding AI and machine learning into the core of Trainline's platform customer innovation strategy. In his new role, he will focus on deepening the integration between these two key areas to enhance innovation, accelerate delivery, and strengthen Trainline's competitive edge through pioneering solutions.

"Bringing together our Tech and Data capabilities is a huge opportunity to unlock innovation and drive real competitive advantage for Trainline and our customers," says Mike Hyde. "As we continue to build a world-class platform, my focus will be on creating alignment and fueling creativity. This will accelerate our ability to deliver impactful, AI-powered solutions for customers across the UK and Europe. I'm very excited about what we can achieve together as we enter this next chapter".

Mike joined Trainline in 2021 with an extensive background in scaling high-impact tech organisations, having previously held senior roles at Meta, Skype, Microsoft and Alix Partners. He holds an M.A. in Engineering, Physics and Computing and a Master of Engineering in Information Sciences from the University of Cambridge.

Alongside this, Nina de Souza has been appointed Chief Product Officer (CPO) and will play a pivotal role in shaping Trainline's product vision and strategy to advance the customer experience further. She joins from TBAuctions, Europe's leading B2B auction marketplace for used industrial goods, where she also served as Chief Product Officer, and brings wealth of international experience in leading product organizations across high-growth digital marketplaces.

"I'm thrilled to be joining Trainline at such an exciting time. The opportunity to help millions of customers travel more seamlessly, especially as demand grows across international markets, is incredibly motivating. It's already clear to me that the product and design team is deeply customer-obsessed, data-driven, and innovative. They've already made impressive strides with AI, and I'm looking forward to building on that momentum together", says Nina de Souza on her appointment.

Previously, Nina held senior product roles at Deliveroo, Hotels.com, and Expedia, where she built and optimized consumer-facing products at scale. She started her career in Investment Banking and Private Equity. Nina holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business.

"Together, Mike and Nina make a formidable team promising an even more exciting future for the business and our customers. We are proud of our legacy as a tech first mover revolutionising the customer experience of rail and with Mike and Nina at the helm there will be more to come through data, product and AI-driven innovation at scale to the benefit of customer outcomes."
Jody Ford, Chief Executive Officer at Trainline

These appointments come as Trainline reinvigorates its Executive Leadership to accelerate product development, drive innovation, and support the continued digitalization of the European rail industry. With a strong focus on innovation, Trainline is committed to reinforcing the shift to rail travel and reducing emissions, playing a key role in the transition to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly transportation system.