Lancs looks to Lincs with senior transport hire
Lancashire Combined County Authority has appointed Karen Cassar as its first director of transport.
Cassar joins LCCA from Lincolnshire County Council, where she held a number of senior leadership positions and developed an extensive track record in delivering transport, highways and place-based services.
She brings significant experience in strategic transport planning, partnership working, infrastructure delivery and organisational leadership.
Cllr Phil Riley, chair of LCCA’s transport advisory board, said this will be one of many new additions. Inaugurated in March 2025, LCCA is, in its own words, now looking to move from establishment into delivery.
Cassar said: “I am incredibly proud to have joined the Lancashire Combined County Authority and to be returning to my home county in this important leadership role.
“Working alongside local authorities, government, businesses and partners, I look forward to helping deliver an integrated, sustainable and efficient transport network that supports Lancashire’s ambitions and enhances quality of life for residents.
“Lancashire has always been a place of innovation, industry and opportunity. I feel both privileged and energised to play a part in helping the county realise its full potential.”
LCCA’s transport advisory bord is chaired by Cllr Phil Riley, long-time leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council. He said: “Karen is our first director of transport and we are investing in building a strong professional team, which is already responsible for nearly £700m in transport investment over the coming years.
“The appointment of Karen will be one of many new additions, as we building the capacity and capability of the LCCA to drive forward and deliver the major transport developments that Lancashire needs.”
As Cllr Riley suggested, the appointment comes at a pivotal time for Lancashire, where it is now “all-change” as far as the make-up of its local authorities is concerned – a government-ordered reorganisation having now been triggered. There is also now a government with a foot in the North West that has greater devolution front of mind.
Those factors add to things already in motion. Through its Growth Plan, the county has identified a pipeline of more than £20bn of potential investment opportunities and a long-term ambition to become a nationally recognised centre for innovation, advanced manufacturing, clean energy, digital technology and economic resilience.
The growth plan places transport connectivity at the heart of delivering sustainable growth and creating opportunities for people and businesses across Lancashire.
Cassar will lead the development and delivery of Lancashire’s strategic transport agenda, helping to ensure that investment in infrastructure and public transport supports economic growth, strengthens communities and improves connections across the county and beyond.
Prior to joining Lincolnshire, she worked for Capita, and before that spent seven years up to 2016 working in transport with Lancashire County Council.
