Andy Byford has been named as London’s next Transport Commissioner by the Transport for London board and Mayor Sadiq Khan.
A former Tube executive, Byford has also held senior positions at South Eastern Trains and Southern Railway, was Chief Executive Officer at the Toronto Transit Commission and was most recently President & Chief Executive Officer of the New York City Transit Authority.
In that post he was responsible for 50,000 staff and devised a $40bn five-year plan to renew the city’s transport system.
He will join TfL on June 29th and outgoing Commissioner Mike Brown will stay on until 10th July to hand over to Byford before he takes up his new role as head of the body overseeing Parliament’s refurbishment.
Mayor Sadiq Khan said: “I’m delighted to confirm Andy Byford as London’s new Transport Commissioner.
“Covid-19 has had a profound impact on public transport in London but Andy brings with him a wealth of experience and expertise to lead TfL as it faces this unprecedented challenge.
“I look forward to working with Andy as we build a greener city with clean and environmentally-friendly travel, including walking and cycling, at the heart of its recovery.
“I would like to place on record my gratitude to Mike Brown for everything he has done for the capital since starting at TfL in 1989. I wish him the best of luck in his new role.”
Andy Byford said: “I am delighted to be taking up the role of Commissioner and to have been chosen to lead the organisation where I started my transport career over 30 years ago.
“In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, all transport authorities around the world will need to reimagine how their services and projects contribute to the safe and sustainable re-start of the social and economic lives of the cities they serve.
“It is a huge challenge, but I know that Transport for London has some of the best people anywhere in the world and we will meet these challenges and will together help build an even better city for everyone.”
Commenting on the appointment, Dr Alison Moore AM, Chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee said: “The new Commissioner is taking up the role at a critical time for Transport for London, and for Londoners, as we navigate the COVID-19 crisis and recovery from it.
“The Commissioner has an incredibly important job in making sure the transport system continues to serve the city in a way that is safe and sustainable for all Londoners, as we emerge from the crisis and beyond.
“We look forward to working with the new Commissioner and to hearing from him in future Assembly meetings.
“We also thank Mike Brown MVO for his many years of service and wish him the very best in his new role overseeing the renovation of the Houses of Parliament.”
