HS2 chairman resigns

The chairman of HS2 Ltd, Sir Terry Morgan, has resigned after just several months in the role. 

The Department for Transport announced his resignation for both the HS2 role and Sir Terry’s role as Chairman of Crossrail Ltd – which he had held since 2009. Earlier this week, Sir Terry said that he expected to be sacked “within days” following a report in the Financial Times that the Prime Minister was poised to dismiss him.

Sir Terry, who recently joined HS2 Ltd, will be replaced by Allan Cook as the new Chair of HS2 Ltd. A successor for Sir Terry on Crossrail Ltd will be announced.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: “Sir Terry has been an integral part of Crossrail for almost a decade and I would like to thank him for his dedication and the expertise he brought to the role. I am also grateful to him for his work as chair of HS2 Ltd.

“HS2 is the country’s biggest infrastructure project and, with his wealth of experience, Allan Cook CBE is the right person to oversee the project as it progresses towards full construction.”

Allan Cook CBE DSc is a chartered engineer with more than 40 years’ international experience in the infrastructure, automotive, aerospace and defence industries. His experience includes serving as Co-Chair of the Defence Growth Partnership, Chair of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, as a director of JF Lehman and Company, and as a former lead non-executive director for the then-Department of Business, Innovation and Skills under the coalition government. Among his other senior posts, he was also chair of WS Atkins Plc, Leonardo UK, and Deputy Chair of Marshalls Group. He served as the CEO of Cobham Plc from 2000 to 2009.

Allan Cook CBE said: “It is a privilege to be asked to take on this crucial role on UK’s biggest infrastructure project. HS2 will transform Britain through the creation of jobs and skills across UK industry. It will improve connectivity and passenger experience as well as creating value for the UK economy.”

Close