Two leading transport experts have been appointed to the board of the Highways Agency as non-executive directors.
Elaine Holt (pictured) and Tom Smith both take up their roles this month.? Holt has spent almost 10 years in the rail industry, recently as CEO of Directly Operated Railways which was established by the government to oversee the management and development of the East Coast rail franchise until it is re-let to a new private operator.? Smith has worked in the rail industry since 2001 and in 2009 became the chairman of the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC). He has previous experience in the roads sector as managing director of Midland Expressway Limited, who manage and operate the M6 Toll. The pair?will replace non-executive director Tim Walton, who stepped down from the Highways Agency’s board at the end of 2013 at the end of his three year term. ?The appointments were announced by Alan Cook, chairman of the Highways Agency.
He said: "With the Agency moving to a government company, their knowledge and expertise of the transport sector will be invaluable and I look forward to working with them through the transition.”
Graham Dalton, chief executive of the Highways Agency, added:?“I am looking forward to working with Tom and Elaine as they help steer us through a period of tremendous change.”
The appointments will run for a period of two years, with an option to extend.?Non-executive directors attend the board meetings held once a month and may also be invited to attend other meetings of the board, where their knowledge and experience outside the Agency add an external perspective to the board’s considerations. In particular, they will observe and advise on the standards of corporate governance operating within the Agency, providing an independent viewpoint.