Investment funder Rock Rail has announced that it will spearhead its entry into the Australian market under the leadership of Jim Eldridge, who joins from the Commonwealth Bank in Australia (CBA).
During his 37-year career at CBA, Jim has been responsible for the origination and financing of multiple large infrastructure transactions, most recently attracting the long-term funding support of leading international institutional investors. His time at CBA has included several senior level secondments in both the USA and UK and the successful structuring of major financing transactions spanning rolling stock, air and road transport, health, energy and telecommunications.
Jim will be based in Sydney and is returning to Rock Rail having worked with the business in 2016 while on secondment from CBA, when he led negotiations with leading institutional investor organisations to secure the debt funding package for Rock Rail’s successful East Anglia rolling stock deal.
Rock Rail’s entry into Australia builds off its UK experience, offering an innovative and tailored alternative for private sector funding of new passenger rolling stock fleets.
Natalia Slavianskaia is also joining the Rock Rail Australia business as commercial project manager. She has over 15 years of rail industry experience, most recently working for Abellio’s Greater Anglia operation where she supported the procurement of Rock Rail’s second UK fleet.
