Mr Cameron is leaving the firm at the end of the month

Euan Cameron, executive director of Arriva Trains, will retire on 31 December after spending three years at the group's Leeds-based rail section.

The firm said Mr Cameron had made a "significant contribution" to the development of the division, which includes Arriva trains Northern.

Arriva chief executive Bob Davies said: "Euan has helped to establish Arriva's long-term position in the UK rail sector and we wish him well."

Successor not named

Mr Cameron joined Arriva in January 2001 as managing director of its UK rail division and was appointed to the main board as an executive director in May 2001.

During his time at the company, he presided over one of the UK's longest-running industrial disputes, at Arriva Trains Northern.

The pay dispute ended earlier this year after the biggest rail union, the RMT, accepted a pay offer from Arriva and called off a series of strikes.

Mr Cameron's successor has not been named but Arriva said its rail operations director Ray Price would continue to be responsible for day-to-day operations.