The appointment, confirmed on 16 October 2026, will see Sir John lead the organisation, which is set to become the third biggest public sector organisation in Britain once formally established. He will be responsible for shaping GBR's design, integrating train and track operations, and driving industry readiness for the transition.
Sir John brings extensive experience from both government and the private sector. His previous roles include Chair of Barclays UK PLC, former Chair of Legal and General Group PLC and Tesco Personal Finance. He also served as Second Permanent Secretary at HM Treasury, where he was involved in the UK government’s response to the financial crisis and the nationalisation of Northern Rock. He was also the first Chair of UK Research and Innovation.
Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander stated that Sir John's appointment is a "defining moment" in the mission to "put passengers first and rebuild Britain’s railways." She added, "His exceptional record across government and industry makes him precisely the leader we need to steer Great British Railways through this landmark transformation."
The government highlights that this appointment is part of a journey towards GBR, with services intended to be run in the interests of passengers and customers. Publicly owned operators are reported to perform better on average, with fares frozen this year and an increase in weekly seats on public operator services.
“"The opportunity to lead Great British Railways is one I could not let pass. It is a privilege to be involved in rail’s next chapter making sure that public ownership of the railways delivers change that people can see."
Richard George, Chair of Network Rail, and Sir Andrew Haines, Chair of DFTO, both welcomed Sir John, expressing confidence in his leadership to drive the transformation of the railway system.
