Bloom joins TfN senior team

Transport for the North has appointed Jeremy Bloom from Highways England as its strategy and programme director.

Bloom has 28 years’ industry experience, the last 13 of them with Highways England, where he led network strategies, programme delivery and investment planning, most recently as network planning director.

He has also spent time in consultancy with Aecom and Parsons Brinckerhoff, as well as working with Network Rail and London Underground.

Statutory body TfN said that the director position is a pivotal new role within the organisation, with oversight of some of the North’s most significant and high profile infrastructure projects. Bloom will take up his post in April, and is to lead on the delivery of the strategic transport plan, set to be submitted this spring.

Barry White, chief executive at TfN, said: “This role is symbolic of where we are as an organisation. We’re on the cusp of having an agreed Strategic Transport Plan to increase connectivity across the whole of the North. A true first.

“In Jeremy, we’ve found a senior leader who will marry an encyclopaedic knowledge of the transport landscape, with the command to spearhead major investment opportunities. He brings a wealth of experience of making credible cases for investment, something that will be essential in delivering on the priorities the North has identified together.”

At Highways England, Bloom established and led on the £9bn Regional Investment Programme, while during his time with Network Rail he was route strategy manager for the £2bn East Coast Main Line upgrade.

He said: “This is a career-defining opportunity to help shape the fabric of the North for decades to come. These are exciting times. With the Strategic Transport Plan in place, we’ll have an unprecedented platform to make well-researched and strong cases for investment across the North. It’s rare that you get an opportunity to make a lasting difference to the economy – and in turn the lives of millions. I can’t wait to get started.”