Tugwell has been in post a little under two years. Credit: via Transport for the North

TfN appoints next chief exec 

Martin Tugwell is to replace Transport for the North’s outgoing chief executive Barry White, who is to step down this month after more than three years in the role. 

Tugwell will join TfN this summer from England’s Economic Heartland, the sub-national transport body for the region including Oxfordshire and Cambridgeshire, where he has been programme director for the last six years. 

He is also the current president of the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation. 

Tugwell described his appointment to the position of chief executive of TfN as “an honour”. 

He added: “I’ve always been a passionate advocate for the ability of better transport connections to change lives and create more opportunities. That belief is the central mission of Transport for the North, one that’s more important today than ever.” 

John Cridland, chairman of Transport for the North, said: “This is a crucial leadership role for the North of England and Martin fits the bill. His extensive professional experience coupled with his drive to make tomorrow better than today means he’s perfectly placed to lead TfN. 

“I would also like to once again put on public record my sincere thanks to Barry White. Barry has played a pivotal role in TfN’s success. He secured the adoption of our 30-year Strategic Transport Plan for the North and led TfN through the challenges of responding to the May 2018 timetable crisis. We thank him for his dedication and wish him all the very best for the future.” 

Tim Wood, Northern Powerhouse Rail director at Transport for the North, is to act as interim chief executive for the period between White’s departure and Tugwell’s arrival. 

Meanwhile, White plans to take a career break following the submission of a business case for Northern Powerhouse Rail, the £39bn project aimed at significantly improving connectivity between the key economic centres of the North.

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