UK high speed rail project announces new CEO

A new chief executive has been appointed to oversee the UK’s high-speed rail project.

Former Crossrail boss Mark Wild has been chosen as the new boss of HS2 Ltd.

Wild will lead the completion of high-speed rail work on the London to West Midlands route, and will also focus on building the infrastructure to support the rail service.

This appointment is part of a series of reforms implemented under the project that aim to reduce costs and deliver the program on time.

Wild was selected following a recruitment process overseen by the HS2 Ltd board and led by Sir Jon Thompson, chairman of the board, with the support of Mark Harper, Secretary of State for Transport.

Harper said: “HS2 between Euston and the West Midlands will provide faster connections for millions of passengers, grow the economy, regenerate communities and create tens of thousands of high-skilled jobs across the country.

“Mark Wild brings with him a wealth of experience, including leading the successful delivery of Crossrail, and I have every confidence that he will manage the costs and solidly oversee this project to transform rail travel for generations.”

Wild added: “I look forward to leading HS2 as it transitions from major construction work to the development of rail systems and beyond to its first passenger services.

“The scale and ambition of HS2 is phenomenal and will deliver far-reaching benefits for the UK in the form of more jobs, economic growth and better travel.”

The new CEO’s start date has not yet been confirmed. However, his arrival follows the departure of Mark Thurston, who led HS2 Ltd for six and a half years until the end of September 2023.

Sir Jon will continue in his current role as executive chairman until Mr Wild’s arrival, at which time he will return to his previous role as chairman of HS2 Ltd.

Mr Wild’s experience includes roles in the transport and utilities industry, most recently as chief executive of SGN, a gas distribution network covering Scotland and the south-east of England.

He was previously chief executive of Crossrail, now known as the Elizabeth Line, for almost four years.

Before joining Crossrail, he was Managing Director of London Underground and previously Chief Executive of Public Transport Victoria, an integrated transport authority based in Melbourne, Australia.

Sir Jon said: “Mark joins HS2 Ltd with unrivaled experience and a track record of successful delivery, giving us the confidence to deliver this incredibly complex program to completion – providing rail users with a more reliable and faster service, while boosting the economies of the West Midlands and London.

“That we can attract a leader of his caliber is a sign of the scale and ambition of HS2.”

SGN CEO Nick Salmon added: “We are extremely grateful to Mark for his energy, strategic vision and leadership. SGN is a key part of the UK’s critical national infrastructure and plays an important role in our efforts to maintain a secure and resilient energy system that underpins a net zero energy economy.

“SGN is in a strong position with a clear business strategy and key senior management appointments over the last two years. The organization is in advanced preparations for the next price review and remains a leader in developing clean energy projects to repurpose the UK gas network.

“Mark will continue to lead the company for a period of up to 12 months or until his successor is appointed and will ensure that SGN delivers an excellent service to our customers over a secure and reliable network. The search for SGN’s next CEO is already underway.”