HS2 civils delivery director to depart

HS2 civils delivery director Mike Lyons (pictured) is leaving his post next month for a role in the private sector.

In a letter to HS2 independent construction commissioner Mark Worthington, Lyons confirmed he would be “leaving HS2 Ltd shortly”.

Lyons joined HS2 in 2014 as programme director and has held several senior leadership roles on the project. He previously worked at Network Rail for 11 years, including as project director for infrastructure for the 2012 Olympics and route delivery director for London North Eastern.

Lyons will be replaced on an interim basis by David Speight, who is currently HS2’s project client director for phase one (north) with responsibility for delivering main works civils across the West Midlands with Balfour Beatty Vinci.

Speight is on secondment to HS2 from Jacobs, where he is delivery director for the major programmes and project group. His previous roles include delivery director for expansion at Heathrow Airport and head of construction for Hinkley Point C at EDF.

HS2 chief executive Mark Thurston said: “I would like to thank Mike for his leadership over the last eight years and the energy and experience he has brought to my executive team over the past 18 months.

“He has played a significant role in establishing our presence in Birmingham and leaves behind a fully mobilised and professional main works civils delivery team across the four integrated project teams.”