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Mike Brown steps up to Hendy’s former TfL commissioner role

Transport for London (TfL) has appointed Mike Brown as the capital’s new transport commissioner following an international recruitment process.

Brown, who has been an interim commissioner since July following Sir Peter Hendy’s appointment as boss of Network Rail, will take up the job effective immediately.

He will replace Hendy in his new role after the Network Rail boss was picked as chair when Richard Parry-Jones was pushed out of the job.

Brown has been TfL’s managing director of London Underground and Rail since 2010, overseeing performance on the Tube, DLR and London Overground as well as the modernisation of the network.

The news was confirmed during a TfL board meeting yesterday (24 September), after which Brown said: “It is vital that we continue to invest, deliver even greater efficiencies and develop our commercial revenue, to support more jobs, homes and ensure London remains the engine of the UK economy.

“As commissioner, my priorities will be the continuing modernisation of the capital’s transport networks, including the upgrade of the Tube, more fast, frequent, metro-style rail services, the delivery of Crossrail and Crossrail 2.

“I’m also determined that, in delivering our unprecedented £4bn road modernisation plan, we keep traffic flowing, the bus network reliable and keep all Londoners, businesses and road users informed so they can plan ahead and avoid disruption.”

He first joined LU in 1989, acting a s general manager of the Metropolitan line and, later on, its chief operating officer before leaving in 2008 to work in Heathrow Airport for BAA.

Boris Johnson, the mayor of London, was “delighted” to confirm Brown’s appointment and praised the improvements observed under his leadership at TfL, including “record numbers” of customers across different networks and fewer delays.

The new commissioner has already seen criticism in regards to his weighty salary, with London Assembly Green member Jenny Jones urging Johnson to reduce the role’s pay, according to the BBC.

Also during yesterday’s board meeting, TfL executives were set to decide on the extension of Alstom’s Northern Line contract, as well as discuss papers that showed Crossrail’s progress had slowed down as the project dipped below its budget.

(Top image c. TfL)