Transport for London hires Mike Brown to take up role as managing director of the tube

Transport for London has poached BAA's Heathrow head, Mike Brown, for the role of London Underground managing director.

He will take up the post in early 2010, taking over from Richard Parry, who was appointed interim head after long-term tube boss Tim O'Toole returned home to America.

Brown has previously been chief operating officer of London Underground and started his career there in 1989.

Transport commissioner Peter Hendy promised that Brown would oversee a rebuilding of the tube after “decades of neglect”.

He said: “We now stand on the cusp of delivering huge improvements for passengers which will enable London's long-term growth and prosperity. Mike will bring all of this to fruition while demonstrating clear value for every pound spent.”

But Brown will inherit a tough set of challenges, including:

  • A 10% fall in tube revenue due to the recession
  • A likely overrun on signalling work being carried out on the Jubilee Line by Bechtel and consortium Tube Lines
  • Closing tough PPP negotiations to fill a £2bn price gap for a consortium to carry out work on the Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly lines from 2010 to 2017
  • Protecting London Underground's programmes and budgets from calls to fund Crossrail.

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