The job, to provide oversight and leadership for Europe鈥檚 biggest infrastructure project, has been open since Allan Cook stepped down in July 2021, having handed in his notice the February before.
But after a fruitless year of looking for a replacement HS2 chair, transport Secretary Grant Shapps has ordered a 鈥渞elaunch鈥� for the search.
Applicants will be asked 鈥渢o demonstrate their experience in providing world-class strategic leadership in complex settings鈥�.
Specifics to construction and infrastructure 聽are avoided to attract leaders from a wider field of industries and backgrounds.
HS2 minister Andrew Stephenson said: 鈥淭he chair of HS2 Ltd is one of the most important transport jobs in the UK sitting at the helm of a project that will deliver on the government鈥檚 promises to boost connectivity, level up communities across the north and midlands and help the nation build back better.
鈥淲e鈥檝e relaunched our search with new criteria designed to ensure we recruit the best and brightest candidate, ready to take on this challenge and drive forward transformation across the nation.鈥濃��
In the meantime, non-executive director Sir Jon Thompson has been named deputy chair to hold the fort. He is chief executive of the Financial Reporting Council, and has previously been a permanent secretary at both the Ministry of Defence and HM Revenue & Customs.
As deputy chair, he will chair HS2 Ltd until a permanent replacement is found. He has been a non-executive director since April 2021.
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