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Dalton to leave Highways Agency

Chief executive Graham Dalton to step down in the summer as new head is sought for what will be Highways England.

Highways Agency chief executive Graham Dalton is to leave his job in the summer.  The news comes days after the Bill to create the Agency’s successor Highways England passed its third reading in the House of Commons.

Highways England is on course to become a fully fledged, arms length government company on 1 April. Dalton has led the Agency for the last seven years through a time of financial constraint and of growing ambition for the strategic road network. 

“Highways England will need a chief executive who can commit to delivering the first Roads Investment Strategy which runs to 2020. I will work to ensure an orderly handover to my successor in the summer.” Graham Dalton.

Under his tenure it has established a strong reputation for efficiency, for delivering capital investment, and for operating one of the most intensively used road networks in Europe.

Dalton said: “It has been a privilege to lead the Highways Agency through such an exciting time. I am leaving the business in good shape with a great team of people and an unprecedented five year fixed investment plan.

“Highways England, which will come into being in April following Royal Assent of the government’s Infrastructure Bill, will need a chief executive who can commit to delivering the first Roads Investment Strategy which runs to 2020. I will work with chairman Colin Matthews to ensure an orderly handover to my successor in the summer.”

The move appears to reflect a change in thinking by Dalton over the last twelve montsh as plans and strategy for the new Highways England business have taken shape.

Asked by Infrastructure Intelligence last February who would run the new company he replied: 

"Me, I hope! I’m tremendously excited about leading the Agency through this period of exceptional change and opportunity, and I am looking forward to leading the new company too."

He added then: "I have been HA chief executive for six years but this will be a different job. I have spent half my career in the private sector – with Mouchel and Bovis Construction - and since then gained public sector understanding with three years at Department for Transport and six at the Highways Agency." 

However, Agency chairman Colin Matthews said this week: "Graham has led the Highways Agency to the point where we can confidently confront the fresh opportunities and challenges in the government's Road Investment Strategy. I thank him warmly for all he has achieved during his successful tenure as CEO."

Secretary of State for Transport Patrick McLoughlin added: "I would like to thank Graham on behalf of the Department for his sterling service both to the Highways Agency and the government. Over the past seven years Graham ha‎s worked tirelessly to oversee the delivery of vital upgrades on our strategic road network, including the dualling of the A11, the introduction of the Dart Charge and the smart motorway network and improvements on the M25, M6 and M62.

"‎A road network that is safe, well-constructed and keeps Britain moving is vital to a growing economy. Graham will be handing over an organisation that has the interests of motorists right at its heart."

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