• Gareth Rhys Williams

    Chair

    Biography

    • Appointed Chair in April 2024.
    • The UK Government Chief Commercial Officer since March 2016 and one of the Vice Presidents of Fauna & Flora International (FFI), the world’s oldest international conservation organisation, having previously served on the Council of FFI.
    • Before joining the Civil Service, he was Chief Executive Officer of PHS Group, Charter International, Capital Safety Group Ltd, and Vitec Group plc.
    • Prior to that he was running international businesses within Rexam and BPB.
    • Qualifications include an MBA, a Trustee and Companion of the Chartered Management Institute, a Fellow of the UK’s Institute of Mechanical Engineers and a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology.

  • Janette Beinart

    Non-Executive Director

    Biography

    • Background in information technology, with a long international career working for Shell, culminating as Global Upstream Chief Information Officer
    • Previous role in the savings and investment business as interim Group Chief Information Officer for M&G Prudential
    • Qualifications include an Economics degree

  • Nick Harris

    Chief Executive

    Biography

    • Appointed Chief Executive in August 2021
    • Responsible for the operational leadership of National Highways, including day-to-day operation of our network, customer service and maintenance services, and our company's five-year capital maintenance and renewals programme
    • Career includes senior operational roles in water utilities across the UK and overseas
    • Qualifications include CEng (Chartered Engineer), MICE (Member of the Institute of Civil Engineers)

  • Scott Dale

    Interim Chief Financial Officer

    Biography

    • Appointed March 2024
    • Career includes roles at Deloitte and Accenture in audit, corporate finance and consultancy, Finance Director roles in both the logistics and energy sector, significant large scale operation roles and non-executive roles for energy and charitable organisations (children’s mental health).
    • A Chartered Accountant and Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
    • Qualifications include a degree in Economics from Liverpool University.

  • Simon Blanchflower CBE

    Non-Executive Director

    Biography

    • Appointed Non-Executive Director in March 2023
    • Deputy Chair of the London Legacy Development Corporation, which is responsible for securing the legacy from the London 2012 Olympics, and Chairs their Health, Safety & Security and Investment Committees. Non-Executive Director of the Ebbsfleet Development Corporation and the Global Centre of Rail Excellence
    • Former Chief Executive Officer of the East West Railway Company (EWR)
    • Background in the rail sector with a long career leading the development and delivery of major rail infrastructure projects including being the Major Programme Director on the Thameslink Programme
    • Qualifications include a BSc Honours degree (1st class) in Civil Engineering and Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers

  • Kathryn Cearns OBE

    Non-Executive Director

    Biography

    • Appointed Non-Executive Director in April 2018
    • Member of Department for Transport’s (DfT) Group Audit and Risk Committee and DfT Special Representative on the Elizabeth Line Committee (Crossrail)
    • Chair of the Office of Tax Simplification, HM Treasury
    • Non-Executive Board member at Companies House, the UK Supreme Court, the Press Recognition Panel and the UK Endorsement Board
    • Lay member and Vice Chair of the BMA Audit and Risk Committee, Vice Chair of The Property Ombudsman and Chair of the Employee Board, Emperor Design Services Ltd
    • Qualifications include FCA (Fellow Chartered Accountant) and FCCA (Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants)

  • Sukhi Johal

    Non-Executive Director

    Biography

    • Appointed Non-Executive Director in June 2023
    • Joined UKGI in March 2021 from RSM UK, the provider of audit, tax and consulting services, as a Corporate Finance Partner
    • Over 20 years’ experience in Corporate Finance, split between Advisory and Corporate & Investment Banking and spent time working on complex transactions in the UK and internationally
    • Currently leads on inward mergers and acquisitions at UKGI

  • Elliot Shaw

    Chief Customer and Strategy Officer

    Biography

    • Joined the company in September 2016 and appointed to the Board in January 2024
    • Responsible for the strategic development of our network, our organisational transformation agenda, our analytical and economist functions, our relationships with key statutory and regulatory bodies, our customer service and our communications and corporate affairs activities
    • Career includes Transformation Director at the Ministry of Justice and a number of Senior Civil Service positions at the Ministry of Justice and DfT, with his early career spent as a management consultant at Accenture
    • Qualifications include: a BA in Economics and Politics; a Masters in Public Administration (MPA) from Harvard University; and FCIHT (Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Highways and Transportation)