The United Kingdom government has appointed Sir John Kingman as the first chair of Great British Railways, marking another step in bringing the railways back under government control.
Kingman will begin his duties as chair immediately and play a critical role in shaping the new organization, continuing to integrate train and track operations and driving industry readiness for transition, as the Railways Bill continues its passage through Parliament.
Once GBR is formally established, Kingman will lead the third biggest public sector organization 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 improving services.
Kingman brings a wealth of experience forged in distinguished careers in both government and the private sector. His leadership of national, customer-focused businesses, including serving as chair of Barclays UK PLC and as former Chair of Legal and General Group PLC and Tesco Personal Finance, will be invaluable in improving the passenger experience and managing the network as GBR is established.
Kingman 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 nationalization of Northern Rock and negotiating 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.
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