Non-executive directors

Richard Parry-Jones, chairman

Richard Parry-Jones joined the board in March 2012 as chairman designate and was appointed Network Rail's non-executive chairman in July 2012.

Richard joined Ford Motor Company as an apprentice before becoming group vice president Global Product Development and group chief technical officer.

Currently he is a senior independent director of GKN Plc and Cosworth Group Holdings as well as being council member of the Royal Academy of Engineering and of Bangor University. He is pro-chancellor of Loughborough University and a visiting professor in the Faculty of Engineering. He also co-chairs, with Vince Cable, the UK Automotive Council. He is a fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and the Royal Society of Statistical Science.

In 2005, Richard was awarded a CBE, for his services to the automobile industry.

Appointed 28 March 2012 

Malcolm Brinded, non-executive director

Malcolm Brinded was an executive director of Royal Dutch Shell Plc until 1 April 2012. He has had a distinguished career with Shell, appointed an executive director of Shell in October 2004 responsible for global exploration and production and from July 2009 executive director for Upstream International. He was previously a managing director of Shell Transport from March 2004 and, prior to that, a managing director of Royal Dutch from 2002.

He is currently a non-executive director of CH2M Hill, chairman of the Shell Foundation and a UK business ambassador.

In 2002, he was appointed CBE for services to the UK oil and gas industry.

Appointed 12 October 2010 

Graham Eccles, non-executive director

Graham Eccles joined the board following an extensive career in the railways.

Graham’s former positions include deputy chairman of London Midland, chairman of the South East Strategic Health Authority, board member of Stagecoach Group Plc, chairman and managing director of South West Trains and co-chairman of Virgin Rail Group Ltd.

He is also chairman of Virgin Healthcare Holdings Limited.

Appointed 7 February 2010 

Mike Firth, non-executive director

Mike Firth was previously head of Corporate Banking at HSBC Bank Plc until his retirement in September 2002. He was previously a non-executive director of Somerfield Plc and First Technology Plc.

Mike is an associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers and a fellow of the ifs School of Finance. He is also a non-executive director of Communisis Plc and Henderson European Focus Trust Plc.

Appointed 4 December 2004 

Lawrie Haynes, non-executive director

Lawrie Haynes is president – Nuclear at Rolls-Royce Plc. He is currently on the board of trustees of the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund and is chairman of its remuneration committee.

He was previously chief executive at White Young Green Plc. Prior to that, he was chief executive of British Nuclear Group and a main board director of BNFL Plc. He was also chief executive of the Highways Agency.

Lawrie holds a degree in business law and an honorary doctorate in engineering (2010) both from Heriot Watt University. He is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport.

Appointed 26 January 2010 

Janis Kong, non-executive director

Janis Kong is a non-executive director of Kingfisher Plc, Portmeirion Group Plc, VisitBritain, TUI Travel Plc and Copenhagen Airport Board.

During her 33-year career with BAA, Janis held a number of operational roles and, until her retirement in March 2006, was a director of BAA Plc and chairman of both Heathrow Airport Ltd and Heathrow Express. Prior to that, she was managing director of Gatwick Airport. She was previously a non-executive director of the Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc.

Appointed 13 January 2010 

Keith Ludeman, non-executive director

Keith Ludeman joined the board in July 2011 and was appointed senior independent director in July 2012.

He was group chief executive of the Go-Ahead Group Plc from July 2006 to July 2011 having previously been a group executive director since 2004 and a main board advisor since 1998. Before this he held senior management positions in bus companies, mainly at managing director level. He has also worked as a transport consultant. He was appointed chief executive of the Go Ahead’s London bus division in 1997, before moving across to manage the rail division in 1999. He was chairman of Association of Train Operating Companies between 2003 and 2005, a member of the British Transport Police Authority until 2005.

He is currently a non-executive director at Interserve Plc and chairman of the Bristol Water Company. He is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Transport & Logistics and a fellow of the Institute of Railway Operators.

Appointed 5 July 2011 

Michael O’Higgins, non-executive director

Michael O’Higgins is chairman of The Pensions Regulator and a non-executive director and chair of the audit committee for HM Treasury. He was chairman of the Audit Commission for six years from 2006. He was also a managing partner at PA Consulting Group from January 1997 to September 2006, working mainly on public sector projects. He was also trustee and chair of Centrepoint for almost ten years.

Michael was a visiting professor of economics at the University of Bath and previously held visiting appointments at the London School of Economics and Harvard.

He holds a BA in economics, an MSc in social policy and is an academician of social sciences. He is also a freeman of the City of London and an honorary member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy.

Appointed 21 November 2012 

Bridget Rosewell, non-executive director

Bridget Rosewell is senior partner of Volterra, producing economic analysis across a range of sectors. She is also a non-executive director and chair of the risk committee at Ulster Bank.

Between 2002 and 2012 she was chief economist and chief economic advisor to the Greater London Authority. Prior to that she was executive chairman of Business Strategies Ltd – subsequently sold to Experian. She was a founder of Oxford Economic Research Associates (Oxera) and previously held a position as an economics adviser to chancellor Kenneth Clarke. Her transport experience includes preparing economic analysis for train operators, Crossrail and London & Continental Railways. She was previously a non-executive director and chair of the audit committees for both the Department for Work and Pensions and Britannia Building Society.

Appointed 20 January 2011