Rock Expands German Platform with Senior Appointment

London – May 2026

Rock is pleased to announce the appointment of Benjamin Hemming as Partner and Head of Origination Germany, effective 1 July 2026. The appointment further strengthens Rock’s leadership team as the business continues to scale its presence across Germany and the wider European infrastructure market.

This appointment builds on Rock’s established track record in Germany, with over €2.4 billion deployed across seven fleets, supporting the delivery of modern, low emission rolling stock and long-term partnerships with public authorities and operators.

Based in Munich, Ben will lead Rock’s origination activities in Germany, focusing on sustainable transport, energy transition and other essential infrastructure opportunities. His appointment coincides with the launch of Rock’s new Munich office, strengthening the firm’s on-the-ground presence in one of Europe’s most important infrastructure markets.

Ben brings more than 20 years of experience across infrastructure financing and investment. Most recently, he served as Global Head of Illiquid Assets Debt at MEAG, where he built and scaled a leading infrastructure debt investment platform for international institutional investors.

His experience spans sustainable transport, digital infrastructure, energy transition and other contracted infrastructure sectors. He has developed long-standing relationships with infrastructure sponsors, public sector stakeholders and institutional investors, alongside launching investment strategies across core, core-plus and higher-yield debt products.

Prior to MEAG, Ben held senior roles at Siemens Bank and BayernLB across Munich, London and Paris, specialising in project and structured finance. During this time, he developed a strong track record across PPPs, concession-based assets, rolling stock and critical infrastructure financing.

Mark Swindell, CEO of Rock, said:

“We are delighted to welcome Ben to Rock. He brings outstanding experience in infrastructure investment, deep relationships across the European market and a strong track record of building and scaling investment platforms. Germany is a strategically important market for Rock, and his appointment, alongside the opening of our Munich office, marks a significant step as we continue to deploy long-term institutional capital into essential infrastructure. We see a strong pipeline of opportunities across transport and energy transition and are well positioned to partner with the public sector and investors to deliver high-quality, sustainable assets.”

Benjamin Hemming said:

“I am delighted to join Rock at such an exciting stage of its growth. Establishing a dedicated origination presence in Munich is an important milestone and reflects the scale of opportunity in Germany and the wider DACH region. I look forward to working with the team to build new partnerships and help deliver investment into sustainable and essential infrastructure.”

Ben joins Rock at a time of continued growth across its core markets, as governments and investors increasingly focus on the modernisation and decarbonisation of critical infrastructure. Rock is well positioned to support this transition through innovative financing, active asset management and long-term strategic partnerships.

Rock is a specialist investment and asset management company focused on transforming critical infrastructure sectors with sustainable, high‑impact solutions. As the parent company of Rock Rail and Rock Road, Rock is dedicated to supporting the decarbonisation and modernisation of infrastructure across the UK and Europe. Through strategic partnerships with public authorities, manufacturers, operators and investors, Rock drives long‑term value by developing, owning and managing innovative rail and road assets that enhance connectivity, reliability and environmental performance. With significant capital deployed in next‑generation rolling stock and sustainable bus infrastructure solutions, Rock’s mission is to deliver infrastructure that works better for people, communities and the planet.

For more information, visit https://rock-group.co.uk/

ENDS

For media enquiries, please contact:

Issy Nash

Marketing Executive

[email protected]

 

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Driving Net Zero: How Rock Road 
Is Funding the UK’s Bus Transition

Accelerating the shift to clean, affordable, zero-emission transport

Year
2025
Category
Rock Road
Share

The Challenge

The UK bus network is at the heart of everyday travel – but over 30,000 diesel buses still need replacing to achieve a fully zero-emission fleet.

While around 5,000 battery-electric buses are already on the road, the high upfront cost of electric vehicles and depot electrification continues to slow the transition. Traditional funding routes — such as government grants or short-term bank finance – have helped start the journey but cannot support decarbonisation at the scale required.

A new, sustainable funding model was needed: one that could attract long-term capital, spread costs fairly, and give operators and authorities confidence in the future.

The Solution

In 2021, Rock launched Rock Road to deliver exactly that –  applying its proven infrastructure financing approach from the rail sector to the UK’s clean bus revolution.

Working with Aviva, the National Wealth Fund, and HSBC, Rock created a dedicated investment platform that channels infrastructure-style finance from pension funds and institutional investors directly into zero-emission bus projects.

This model provides:
  • Access to billions in long-term private capital for fleets and depot electrification.
  • Low-cost, sustainable finance tailored to public-sector needs.
  • Comprehensive risk transfer, including residual value and battery performance, supported by Rock’s in-house team of engineers and asset managers.

Impact

The platform has already raised £100 million, with capacity to scale to £1 billion per year over the next decade – providing a consistent source of affordable capital for local authorities and operators.

Rock’s model ensures that the total cost of ownership (TCO) of electric buses can now be lower than diesel equivalents, thanks to both cheaper long-term finance and reduced operating costs.

In London, Rock has financed 120 zero-emission buses under 7-year leases aligned with Transport for London’s contract lengths. This structure gives operators flexibility and certainty:

  • Buses can be returned, renewed, or upgraded at the end of term.
  • Lease rates are predictable and capped.
  • Ownership and residual risks sit with Rock, not the operator.

The Future

Rock Road’s ambition is to support the rollout of zero-emission fleets across the UK – helping local authorities and operators meet climate goals without overextending public budgets.

By leveraging limited government funding to attract large-scale private capital – for example, £10 million of public investment unlocking over £250 million in total funding – Rock’s model accelerates decarbonisation while keeping costs low for the public sector.

Our ambition is to make electric buses the default choice - not because of subsidy, but because they are the best economic and environmental option.
Louis Swindell
Commercial Director, Rock Road