Andy Byford appointed London’s new Transport Commissioner

27 May 2020
Appointment of former President & Chief Executive Officer of New York City Transit Authority confirmed following an international recruitment and selection process

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and the Board of Transport for London (TfL) today confirmed the appointment of Andy Byford as London's new Transport Commissioner, following an international recruitment and selection process.

 

Byford's most recent role was President and Chief executive Officer of New York City Transit Authority, where he was responsible for 50,000 staff and devised a $40bn five-year investment plan to renew the city's transport system.

 

He will join TfL on 29th June, with the current Commissioner, Mike Brown MVO, staying on until 10th July to hand over to Byford and aid his start in the role before he takes up a position overseeing the renovation of the historic Houses of Parliament.

 

Byford brings to TfL a track record of leadership and transformation within major urban transport authorities and has worked within a wide range of complex stakeholder and political environments in a transport career that has spanned over 30 years and three continents. As well as his recent leadership role in New York, his previous positions include:  

  • Chief Executive Officer, Toronto Transit Commission, Canada
  • Chief Operating Officer & Deputy CEO, Rail Corporation New South Wales, Australia
  • Director of Operations, Southern Railway
  • Director of Safety and Operations, South Eastern Trains Limited
  • Various roles at London Underground Limited, where he started as a graduate trainee in 1989 before working his way up to General Manager - Customer Service for the Bakerloo, Central and Victoria lines

Byford takes up the post at a pivotal moment for the organisation and for London as TfL works to help the capital recover from the Covid-19 pandemic and support a safe and sustainable re-start.

 

The Mayor of London, 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."

 

Andy Byford is 54 years old and grew up in Plymouth, Devon. He is married to his Canadian wife, Alison, and is a lifelong supporter of Plymouth Argyle Football club.

 

Notes to Editors:

  • Andy Byford worked in a number of roles at London Underground between 1989 and 2003.

2000 - 2003     General Manager - Customer Service, Bakerloo, Central & Victoria Lines      

1998 - 2000     Train Service Delivery Manager, Metropolitan, Circle, Hammersmith & City Lines       

1996 - 1998     Station Operations Manager - Jubilee Line Extension Project             

1994 - 1996     Group Station Manager - King's Cross St Pancras Group        

1992 - 1994     Duty Station Manager              

1989 - 1992     Graduate Trainee     

 

  • The Commissioner has been appointed following an international recruitment and selection process undertaken by global leadership advisory firm Egon Zehnder, which saw 107 candidates mapped, 77 candidates contacted, 20 candidates long-listed and 6 shortlisted for interview.
  • The new Commissioner will receive a salary of £355k - the same as the current Commissioner Mike Brown MVO, and the same as the former Commissioner Sir Peter Hendy in 2015/16. The Commissioner is also eligible for a performance award each year of up to 50 per cent of salary.
  • He is also entitled to a relocation payment, but has chosen not to take it.
  • The performance award is determined each year by the Remuneration Committee of the TfL Board against a range of challenging customer service, operational and financial targets.