Cook appointed non-executive chair of Highways Agency

Date: 11/1/2011

Alan Cook has become the first-ever non-executive to be appointed Chairman of the Highways Agency board.

The Department for Transport (DfT) announced this week that Mr Cook will provide independent advice to Philip Hammond, the Transport Secretary, in addition to improving the efficiency of the agency.

He is currently a non-executive board member at the DfT and the non-executive Director of the Financial Ombudsman Service and the Office of Fair Trading.

Commenting on his new post, Mr Cook said that the Highways Agency was facing some difficult issues it needed to work though in order to maintain a high level of service for road users amid the government's austerity measures.

Meanwhile, Mr Hammond added: "As part of the Spending Review Settlement, that saw a relatively generous capital allocation for Highways Agency projects, the Highways Agency has agreed to meet some very tough targets for efficiency improvements."

In related news, it was reported this week that proposals are being considered that could see uninsured vehicle owners become the subject of a tough government clampdown.

Posted by Mary Treen