Mark Wild OBE has been appointed as the new chief executive of HS2 Ltd to lead the completion of the high-speed rail infrastructure project.
A highly respected figure within the rail industry, Mark has almost four decades of experience. This experience includes a track record of successful deliveries of complex railway systems – the alignment of tracks, train, power, signalling and communications – most notably during his time as the CEO of Crossrail.
Mark will join HS2 Ltd at a pivotal moment, as civil engineering works along the route reach their peak and focus begins to shift from building the infrastructure to operating the railway. His appointment is one of a number of reforms across the project, with the aim of bringing down costs and delivering the scheme safely.
Mark has previously held key roles in the transport and utilities industries, most recently as the CEO of CGN.
He was previously the CEO of Crossrail for four years, which, apart from HS2, is the largest wholly new railway in the UK. Since its launch in May 2022, Crossrail, now known as the Elizabeth Line, has proved incredibly successful, with more than 300 million passenger journeys.
Mark has also served as the Managing Director of the London Underground and as the CEO of Public Transport Victoria in Melbourne, Australia.
Mark’s start date at HS2 Ltd is yet to be confirmed, but he will follow on from Mark Thurston, who led HS2 for six-and-a-half years until September 2023. Sir Jon Thompson is serving as Executive Chair until Mark’s arrival.
Sir John Thompson said: “Mark joins HS2 Ltd with unrivalled experience and a track record of successful delivery, giving confidence that he will drive this hugely complex programme to completion - providing more reliable and faster services for rail users, while boosting the economies of the West Midlands and London. It is a mark of the scale and ambition of HS2 that we can attract a leader of his calibre.”
Mark’s appointment has also been backed by the Secretary of State for Transport, Mark Harper.
Mark Harper said: "Mark Wild brings a wealth of experience with him, including leading the successful delivery of Crossrail, and I have every confidence he will grip costs and robustly oversee this project to transform rail travel for generations.”
Once completed, HS2 will double capacity between the UK’s two largest cities, London and Birmingham, and provide relief to the southern section of the West Coast Main Line, creating more space for local and freight services.
Image credit: HS2