CH2M boss to take over as HS2 interim CEO

CH2M’s European managing director Roy Hill is to take over as HS2’s interim chief executive, replacing Simon Kirby who takes up a new role in 2017.

Hill, who will join HS2 next month, was previously development director for phase one of HS2 between 2012 and 2014. HS2 is still looking for a new chief executive after current incumbent Simon Kirby decided to leave the operation for a leading role at Rolls Royce, which he takes up at the end of the year.

HS2 Ltd hopes to appoint a permanent chief executive early in 2017, who they hope will be in place by the summer of 2017.

Commenting on Hill’s appointment as interim CEO, HS2 Ltd chairman David Higgins said: “His understanding of the project and the industry puts him in an excellent position to continue the significant progress made under Simon while we continue our search for a permanent CEO.

“Roy’s secondment from CH2M will allow HS2 to benefit from his broad experience overseeing some of the world’s most complex infrastructure projects. He is uniquely qualified to fill this interim role, seeing HS2 through its upcoming milestones and into the start of construction next year.”