Sir Jon Thompson, the Chair of HS2 Ltd, has announced his decision to step down in the spring after nearly four years on the Board.
Sir Jon began his journey with HS2 Ltd as a Non-Executive Director in April 2021 and was later appointed Chair of the UK's largest rail project. Recently, he served as Executive Chair, ensuring continuity during a crucial period while the new Chief Executive, Mark Wild, was being recruited.
Throughout his tenure, Sir Jon has led HS2 Ltd and its extensive supply chain, comprising over 30,000 workers, in building the infrastructure for the high-speed rail network.
The search for a new Chair will soon begin to find a successor who will guide HS2 Ltd through the next phase of the project.
Sir Jon’s successor will collaborate with Mark Wild, a highly respected figure in the infrastructure sector, who joined the organisation at the beginning of the month as CEO to oversee the completion of the high-speed railway.
Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, said:
I want to thank Sir Jon for his work over nearly 4 years to progress Britain’s largest rail project.
He has provided strong leadership during challenging times for the project, and we are grateful for his service.
The coming months will see fresh leadership commence under new CEO Mark Wild, as we work to grip budgets and deliver the line cost-effectively for passengers and taxpayers.
The announcement comes after the government gave the project much-needed certainty by confirming HS2 will be delivered between Birmingham and Euston while pledging to grip budgets and bring the project back on track to deliver it cost-effectively for passengers and taxpayers.
Image credit: Gov.uk
