HS2 announces former development director as interim CEO

THE company responsible for delivering HS2 has announced the appointment of an interim CEO.

Roy Hill, European managing director of global engineering consultant CH2M will take up the position in succession to Simon Kirby at the beginning of November.

Mr Kirby announced last month he would be leaving the £50bn project at the end of the year to take up the position of Chief Operating Officer with Rolls-Royce.

Commenting on the appointment, HS2 Ltd chairman David Higgins said: “I’m pleased to welcome Roy Hill back to the team.”

“His understanding of the project and the industry puts him in an excellent position to continue the significant progress made under Simon Kirby while we continue our search for a permanent CEO.”

He said Mr Hill’s secondment from CH2M would enable the rail project to benefit from his broad experience overseeing some of the world’s most complex infrastructure projects.

“He is uniquely qualified to fill this interim role, seeing HS2 through its upcoming milestones and into the start of construction next year,” he added.

Recruitment for the permanent role is underway and HS2 Ltd said it hoped to have selected the candidate around the turn of the year and that the permanent CEO would be in place by summer 2017.

Mr Hill was previously seconded to HS2 Ltd in 2012 where he held the position of Phase One Development Director for approximately two years.
 

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