A new chairman has been appointed to lead high-speed rail scheme HS2 - the seventh in the project's 14-year history.
Sir Jonathan Thompson has taken over the role after being its deputy chairman and its de facto chairman since March last year following the departure of Allan Cook in 2021.
His role will be to provide oversight, leadership and accountability while driving forward Europe's largest infrastructure project.
Construction of the first phase of HS2 between Birmingham and London is well under way while later phases will connect Birmingham with Crewe, Manchester and the East Midlands. The Crewe-Manchester Bill is currently moving through Parliament.
Sir Jonathan brings decades of experience delivering major projects, having previously served as the Permanent Secretary at both the Ministry of Defence and HM Revenue and Customs alongside just under two years as a member of HS2's board.
The appointment ends a two-year search following the resignation of HS2's last chairman Allan Cook in February 2021 after just over two years in the post.
At the time of Sir Jonathan's appointment as deputy chairman last March, the Government announced it was ramping up its efforts to find a permanent chair by broadening the role's criteria to appeal to candidates from a greater range of sectors.
Sir Jonathan said: "I am delighted to have been appointed as HS2 chairman. During my time on the board, this monumental project has already achieved some incredible milestones and I've seen first-hand how it will transform not only journeys but the lives of people across the country.
"I look forward to working with our first-class stakeholders and partners in my new role to ensure this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity fulfils its pioneering potential."
HS2 is never far from the headlines and Sir Jonathan takes over just two weeks after reports emerged that the section of the line taking the service from Old Oak Common in West London into the heart of the capital at Euston could be scrapped.
This was later rubbished by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt while reports earlier this week said the planned regularity of the service and also its speed might be curtailed in a bid to reduce already spiralling costs. The Department for Transport responded by saying it did not comment on speculation.
Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: "HS2 goes far beyond simply making journeys quicker. It is a world-leading project that is already having a huge impact by regenerating communities and creating tens of thousands of jobs across the country.
"I am delighted to appoint Sir Jonathan as chairman and, with his breadth of experience, I have no doubt he will be successful in delivering our shared goals of increasing capacity on our rail network, levelling up our country and driving economic growth for generations to come."
Sir Jonathan, who is a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance, will stand down from his current role as the chief executive of audit watchdog the Financial Reporting Council.
Elaine Holt, who is an existing non-executive director of HS2, has been appointed as HS2's new deputy chairwoman.
