Icomera Appoints Rail Industry Leader Ben Dunlop as Managing Director of DG8
Icomera has announced the appointment of Ben Dunlop as the new Managing Director of its DG8 design and engineering division, effective early March.
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Ben brings more than 30 years’ experience across the UK rail sector. His career began with British Rail before moving to Atkins, where he rose through senior leadership roles covering engineering, business development, programme delivery, and strategic growth.
As Director of Solutions East, he led more than 400 engineering and design staff, and later headed Atkins’ electrification business development, helping the organisation secure a leading share of the UK market. His tenure as Director of Digital Railways saw him guiding digital strategy, support winning signalling and telecoms programmes, and shaping new technology propositions. Since 2019, he has run an independent consultancy supporting engineering and education organisations.
Commenting on his appointment, Ben said:
DG8 has an impressive reputation for high‑quality design, deep engineering expertise, and close client partnerships. I’m excited to build on that foundation and help shape the next chapter, growing capabilities, supporting Icomera’s broader technology ecosystem, and delivering even more value across the industry.
Ben succeeds DG8 founders Mark Hoptroff and Mike Mortimer, who will remain involved in the business in an advisory capacity to ensure continuity. Their planned transition is designed to support DG8’s next phase of growth, following strong progress since becoming part of Icomera in 2019.
Catherine Chardon, CEO at Icomera, added:
I would like to publicly acknowledge and thank Mark Hoptroff and Mike Mortimer for their leadership over the past 17 years. Their vision, dedication, and commitment have shaped DG8 into the respected design and engineering partner it is today. We are deeply grateful for the solid foundations they have built.
Ben’s industry knowledge and leadership experience make him an outstanding fit for DG8. His arrival strengthens our ability to deliver integrated, future‑focused solutions across the rail industry. This marks an exciting milestone as DG8 continues to scale and innovate.
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