HS2 appoints Mark Wild new CEO as project enters next stage

Former Crossrail boss Mark Wild has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of HS2. He replaces Mark Thurston who resigned in September last year, shortly before the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak cancelled the scheme’s phase 2 from Birmingham to Manchester.

He joins the high-speed railway at a pivotal moment in the programme’s delivery, says HS2, with civil engineering works along the route from London to the West Midlands reaching their peak and the focus then shifting from major construction works to its rail systems phase and beyond to the first passenger services.

Wild brings almost four decades of experience to the role with a strong record in the successful delivery of complex railway systems. His appointment forms part of a series of reforms across the project aimed at “bearing down on costs and safely delivering the scheme on time, in line with recent scope changes announced by the Government”.

Some major uncertainties still surround the London to Birmingham section with unsecured funding for the final tunnel drive into London Euston and unresolved details and costing of a new connection required to link the new line to the existing West Coast Main Line track at Handsacre, north of Birmingham.

The recruitment process was overseen by the HS2 board and led by Sir Jon Thompson, Executive Chair, with backing from Mark Harper, the Secretary of State for Transport.

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.”

Thompson added, “Mark joins HS2 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.”

Wild’s precise start date is yet to be confirmed and Thompson will continue in his current position as Executive Chair until his arrival, when he will resume his previous role as HS2 Chair.

Wild’s extensive experience includes key roles in the transport and utilities industries, most recently as CEO of SGN, the gas distribution network covering Scotland and the south east of England.

He was CEO of Crossrail for almost four years, leading the project from a crucial juncture in its construction through to successful opening. Prior to Crossrail, he was Managing Director of the London Underground and was previously Chief Executive of Public Transport Victoria, the integrated transport authority based in Melbourne, Australia.