Transport for London (TfL) have appointed Andy Byford as London's new transport commissioner following an international recruitment and selection process, an appointment that marks Byford’s return to the organisation where he began his career over 30 years ago.

Byford’s most recent role was president and chief executive Officer of New York City Transit Authority, where he was responsible for 50,000 staff and devised a $40bn five-year investment plan to renew the city’s transport system.

He will join TfL on 29 June, with current commissioner Mike Brown staying on until 10 July to hand over to Byford and aid his start in the role before he takes up a position overseeing the renovation of the Houses of Parliament.

Byford brings to TfL a track record of leadership and transformation within major urban transport authorities and has worked within a wide range of complex stakeholder and political environments in a transport career that has spanned over 30 years and three continents. 

As well as his recent leadership role in New York, his previous positions include:

• Chief executive officer, Toronto Transit Commission, Canada;
• Chief operating officer & deputy CEO, Rail Corporation New South Wales, Australia;
• Director of operations, Southern Railway;
• Director of safety and operations, South Eastern Trains Limited;
• Various roles at London Underground Limited, where he started as a graduate trainee in 1989 before working his way up to general manager – Customer Service for the Bakerloo, Central and Victoria lines.

Byford takes up the post at a pivotal moment for the organisation and for London as TfL works to help the capital recover from the Covid-19 pandemic and support a safe and sustainable re-start.

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “'I'm delighted to confirm Andy Byford as London's new transport commissioner. Covid-19 has had a profound impact on public transport in London but Andy brings with him a wealth of experience and expertise to lead TfL as it faces this unprecedented challenge.

“I look forward to working with Andy as we build a greener city with clean and environmentally-friendly travel, including walking and cycling, at the heart of its recovery. I would like to place on record my gratitude to Mike Brown for everything he has done for the capital since starting at TfL in 1989. I wish him the best of luck in his new role.”

Byford said: “I am delighted to be taking up the role of commissioner and to have been chosen to lead the organisation where I started my transport career over 30 years ago. In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, all transport authorities around the world will need to reimagine how their services and projects contribute to the safe and sustainable re-start of the social and economic lives of the cities they serve. 

“It is a huge challenge, but I know that Transport for London has some of the best people anywhere in the world and we will meet these challenges and will together help build an even better city for everyone.”