Gordon Charles Pettitt served as Deputy Director, London and South East, before becoming Deputy General Manager of British Rail: Southern Region and was then promoted in 1985 to General Manager for British Rail: Southern Region until 1990. He then moved to Regional Railways as Managing Director, serving int his capacity between 1990 to 1992. He also served as an External Board Member for Office of the Rail Regulator from 1993 until 1996, as well as acting as an Advisor to the Channel Tunnel Rail Link.