NY transit boss Byford is London’s new Transport Commissioner

Andy Byford has been appointed as London's new Transport Commissioner, following an international recruitment and selection process.

Byford’s most recent role was President and Chief Executive Officer of New York City Transit Authority, where he was responsible for 50,000 staff and devised a $40bn five-year investment plan to renew the city’s transport system.

The appointment was confirmed by Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and the Board of Transport for London (TfL).

He will join TfL on 29 June, with current Commissioner Mike Brown MVO staying on until 10 July to hand over to Byford and aid his start in the role before he takes up a position overseeing the renovation of the historic Houses of Parliament.

Byford has a worked for major urban transport authorities in a career that has spanned over 30 years and three continents. As well as his recent leadership role in New York, his previous positions include:

• Chief Executive Officer, Toronto Transit Commission, Canada
• Chief Operating Officer & Deputy CEO, Rail Corporation New South Wales, Australia
• Director of Operations, Southern Railway
• Director of Safety and Operations, South Eastern Trains
• Various roles at London Underground Limited, where he started as a graduate trainee in 1989 before working his way up to General Manager – Customer Service for the Bakerloo, Central and Victoria lines.

Byford, 54, takes up the post at a pivotal moment for the organisation and for London as TfL works to help the capital recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and support a safe and sustainable re-start.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “COVID-19 has had a profound impact on public transport in London but Andy brings with him a wealth of experience and expertise to lead TfL as it faces this unprecedented challenge.

“I look forward to working with Andy as we build a greener city with clean and environmentally-friendly travel, including walking and cycling, at the heart of its recovery. I would like to place on record my gratitude to Mike Brown for everything he has done for the capital since starting at TfL in 1989.”

Andy Byford said: “I am delighted to be taking up the role of Commissioner and to have been chosen to lead the organisation where I started my transport career over 30 years ago. In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, all transport authorities around the world will need to reimagine how their services and projects contribute to the safe and sustainable re-start of the social and economic lives of the cities they serve. It is a huge challenge, but I know that Transport for London has some of the best people anywhere in the world and we will meet these challenges and will together help build an even better city for everyone.”