The Government has appointed Sir John Kingman as the first chair of Great British Railways (GBR), marking another important step towards bringing the railways back under public control.
Sir John will begin his duties as chair immediately and will play a critical role in shaping the design of the new organisation, continuing the integration of train and track operations and driving industry readiness for transition, as the Railways Bill continues its passage through Parliament.
Once GBR is formally established, Sir John will lead the third biggest public sector organisation in Britain. As chair, he will work closely with the rail industry and devolved transport bodies with a relentless focus on improving passenger experience and services.
Sir John brings a wealth of experience forged in distinguished careers in both government and the private sector. His experience in leadership of national, customer-focused businesses, such as the chair of Barclays UK PLC, and as the former chair of Legal and General Group PLC and Tesco Personal Finance, will be invaluable to improving the experience of passengers and management of the network as GBR is established.
Sir John has also served as Second Permanent Secretary at HM Treasury, where he played a central role in the UK Government’s response to the financial crisis, including the nationalisation of Northern Rock and negotiated on Greater Manchester’s flagship devolution deal. He later became the first chair of UK Research and Innovation, where he oversaw £8 billion in annual science funding.
Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander said: “Sir John Kingman’s appointment marks a defining moment in our mission to put passengers first and rebuild Britain’s railways.
“His exceptional record across government and industry makes him precisely the leader we need to steer Great British Railways through this landmark transformation.
“I look forward to working with him as we deliver a more reliable railway that this country can be proud of.”
Sir John Kingman, Chair of Great British Railways commented: “The opportunity to lead Great British Railways is one I could not let pass. It is a privilege to be involved in rail’s next chapter making sure that public ownership of the railways delivers change that people can see.
“I want to help to build a simpler, more unified railway that puts the interests of the passengers and customers first, supports growth and creates opportunity across the country.”
Image credit: Department for Transport
