Haydn Turner Abbott was born in 1949. In the earlier stages of his career he undertook various roles in the petrophysics, electrical engineering and security printing industries. In 1999 he was appointed as the Managing Director of Angel Trains, staying with the rolling stock leasing company until 2008. Between 2008 and 2018 he worked in railway consultancy for Fenners Consulting and has served as the Director of Porterbrook from 2018 onwards.