19.09.17
Griffiths takes over reins as MD of HS2 phase 2
Paul Griffiths has taken over as managing director of phase 2 at HS2 following the departure of Alison Munro, it has today been revealed.
Munro left the company at the end of August, with former phase 2b development director Griffiths the favourite to succeed her as managing director.
And updates on his social media profile have shown that he has indeed been quietly given the important role, which will see him lead the construction of the £25bn high-speed project north of Birmingham via north west England to Manchester and via the East Midlands to South Yorkshire and Leeds.
"HS2 will transform the economic geography of the country, serving over 25 stations and connecting around 30 million people," Griffiths said.
"I’m really proud of the what we have achieved so far, working with communities and stakeholders right across the country. We’re now focused on taking the next Bill through Parliament and continuing the work of developing the rest of the route.”
Before joining HS2, Griffiths spent six years at Centro as Metro and Sprint programme director, and was responsible for the expansion of the light rail system in Birmingham.
He has also had roles at Metrolink, Manchester City Council, as well as at construction company Mace, where he was an operations director.
HS2 chief executive Mark Thurston added that he was pleased Griffiths would be moving to managing director, describing him as a "welcome addition to the HS2 executive team".
"During his time with the company Paul has been instrumental in helping us to get the designation of the route to Leeds and Manchester.
"With his knowledge and understanding of the programme he is exceptionally well placed to continue the detailed route design and bring the benefits of HS2 to more places in the Midlands and the North."
The appointment of Griffiths follows a year of big changes in the HS2 board room, after Beth West stepped down as HS2 commercial director in June, which followed Simon Kirby resigning as CEO of the company in September 2016.
HS2 has also moved forward with the award of construction contracts and the finalisation of the phase 2 route following a rocky start to the year with Mace threatening legal action against the company over its handling of the phase 2b contract.
Griffiths will also be speaking at TransCityRail North, hosted by RTM on 5 October at Manchester's Principal Hotel.
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