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SGN chief executive Mark Wild has been named as the next permanent chief executive of HS2 Ltd after months of speculation.
He will, however, stay on as SGN boss for up to a year while the gas network seeks his replacement.
SGN chairman Nick Salmon said: “We are immensely grateful to Mark for his energy, strategic vision and leadership.”
He added: “SGN is in a strong position with a clear business strategy and key appointments made to the senior management team over the past two years. The organisation is in advanced preparations for the next price control and remains a leader in developing clean energy projects to repurpose the UK gas network.
“Mark will continue to lead the business for up to 12 months or until his successor is appointed and he will ensure that SGN delivers excellent service to our customers through a safe and reliable network. The search for SGN’s next CEO is already underway.”
Wild joined SGN as chief executive in August 2022, returning to the sector after a 20-year hiatus.
However, the lure of delivering the country’s biggest ever railway would seem to have been too big a draw to refuse for the man who turned around Crossrail’s fortunes and successfully managed the London Underground.
Wild added: “I look forward to leading HS2 as it progresses from major construction works to its rail systems phase and beyond to the first passenger services. The scale and ambition of HS2 is phenomenal and will deliver wide-reaching benefits for the UK through more jobs, economic growth and better journeys.”
Wild replaces Mark Thurston who stood down from the post last September after more than six years in the role. Thurston was last week unveiled as the new chief executive of Anglian Water and officially starts the post in July.
Until Wild starts, Sir Jon Thompson will oversee the running of the delivery body in his position as executive chair.
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.”
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