High Speed 2 has recruited Mark Thurston from CH2M as chief executive of the £60Bn scheme. But the rail project’s chairman has denied any suggestion that the appointment represents a conflict of interest.

 

Mark Thurston (pictured) is currently the regional managing director of CH2M’s European operations, which includes activities in the UK. He will switch roles this spring. The consultant is partnering Atkins and SENER on a 10 year, £350M contract as the engineering delivery partner on phase one of the rail scheme.

 

In his new role Mark Thurston will be paid an annual salary of £535,000, compared to the £750,000 received by former chief executive Simon Kirby who left last September.

 

High Speed 2 chairman David Higgins said: “As part of our search for Simon Kirby's replacement I spoke to 20 potential candidates across four continents. Mark stood out because he combined a lifetime's experience in the rail industry in the UK with the skill set you acquire working at a global level. Over the next 10 years he can now use that experience to make HS2 a reality.

 

“At the same time we recognise the need to avoid any conflict of interest so he will cut all links with his previous employer. They will be treated in the same way as any other supplier – no more or less favourably than that. All those who bid for work with HS2 have the right to know that they will be treated on the same basis and, as we have shown to date, we are determined that our systems are constructed in such a way as to deliver that equal treatment.”

 

Mark Thurston began his career in the rail industry over 30 years ago as an apprentice with Transport for London and went on to work for the Nichols Group and Metronet, joining CH2M in 2008. He worked on the London 2012 Olympic Games and Crossrail, where he led the programme partner joint venture.

 

David Higgins added: "Mark not only knows the UK rail industry from the bottom up, but has worked for organisations operating at the highest level globally. His grasp of how to manage the transition from page to reality makes him not only the right person to take over at HS2 as we are on the verge of Royal Assent, but also to see it through the years leading up to the first train being commissioned.”

 

Mark Thurston said: “HS2 is arguably the most important investment in infrastructure in the UK for a generation, which will serve businesses and communities across much of the country. I am looking forward to leading the HS2 team and its partners to deliver a railway that will transform connectivity between our major cities and regions."

 

Yesterday the House of Lords held its third reading of the High Speed Rail (London - West Midlands) Bill. Royal Assent of the project is expected in the coming weeks.