Government appoints new HS2 chair

THE Government has announced the appointment of the new chairman of the company responsible for delivering the HS2 high speed rail link.

Douglas Oakervee will begin work at HS2 Ltd next month. The appointment is for a period of three to five years; however re-appointment is possible, if mutually agreed, to a maximum of 10 years.

The chairmanship comes with an annual salary of between £120,000 and £140,000, with the new chair expected to spend at least two days per week in HS2 Ltd’s offices in central London.

Mr Oakervee has had a long and distinguished career, with significant experience of working on major infrastructure projects. Between 2005 and 2009 he was Executive Chairman of Crossrail Ltd during the project’s Hybrid Bill phase. He has also been a Project Director at Chek Lap Kok International Airport in Hong Kong, with responsibility for planning, design procurement and construction.

As chair of HS2 Ltd, he will be responsible for:

•    Formulating board’s strategy;
•    Ensuring that the board, in reaching decisions across its full remit including the route design and environmental assessment, takes proper account of guidance provided by the Department for Transport or the Secretary of State;
•    Encouraging high standards of regularity and propriety; and,
•    Promoting HS2 to the general public.

Transport Secretary Justine Greening said: “HS2 is a railway which will transform the economic shape of the UK, so finding the right person for this role is vital. I am delighted that Doug has agreed to take on this important position, bringing with him decades of experience of working on major infrastructure projects.

“The next few years include a number of key challenges and milestones for this project and Doug’s input will be invaluable as we move forward. I would also like to thank the current chair, Brian Briscoe, for his invaluable work in leading HS2 Ltd this far.”

Mr Oakervee said: “I am excited about my appointment and passionate about the development of UK’s high-speed rail network and HS2 is a great step forward.

“I believe that HS2 offers a unique chance to address the capacity issues facing the British transport network and to promote growth in our major cities. I will use my experience of the Hybrid Bill process at Crossrail to ensure that HS2 Ltd is best able to efficiently navigate this stage of the project.”