- John Armitt
John Armitt, CBE, is the appointed Chairman of the
Olympic Delivery Authority , the body charged with building the venues, facilities and infrastructure for the2012 Olympic Games . The appointment was to commence on 1 September 2007. [http://www.culture.gov.uk/Reference_library/Press_notices/archive_2007/dcms054_07.htm] . Culture Secretary,Tessa Jowell , announced the appointment in May 2007.Until 18 July 2007, he was the Chief Executive of
Network Rail , the not-for-dividend company which owns, maintains, and runs the railway infrastructure in the UK. His successor as Chief Executive isIain Coucher [cite press release| publisher=Network Rail| url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/3833.aspx| title=John Armitt to retire as Chief Executive. Iain Coucher, his current Deputy is to succeed him| accessdate=2006-12-12| ] . John Armitt formally left Network Rail on 20 July 2007 after bringing the former Railtrack, put into administration, back from the brink of collapse, garnering respect even from dedicated critics. His civil engineering background, including work on the high-speed Channel Tunnel link and the Sizewell B nuclear plant, are cited as key experience fitting him for the Chairmanship of theOlympic Delivery Authority (ODA). [Railway Man who has to keep Olympics on Track: " [http://business.guardian.co.uk/story/0,,2135974,00.html] " Accessed 2 Sept. 2007]During his time at Network Rail he was believed by a survey sponsored by "The Sunday Times" to be the highest-paid
public-sector employee in the UK [ [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,176-2394025,00.html Fat cats of the public sector take top pay - Times Online ] ] . Armitt’s salary and bonus of £878,000 - rising to more than £1m [Network Rail Limited: " [http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/annual%20report%20and%20accounts/network%20rail%20limited%20annual%20report%20and%20accounts%202006.pdf Annual Report and Accounts 2006] "] when pension contributions are included, overtakingAdam Crozier , chief executive ofRoyal Mail .Science and Innovation Minister, Malcolm Wicks announced the appointment of John Armitt as the new Chair of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (
EPSRC ). He succeeded DameJulia Higgins on 1 April 2007. The appointment is for four years.He initially trained and practiced as a
civil engineer . Before joining the Olympic Delivery Authority, he was Chief Executive of Network Rail, and formerly held the position of Chief Executive ofCostain Group andUnion Railways .On July 16th 2007, Armitt named a Class 43 HST powercar after himself at London Euston. The powercar in question forms part of Network Rail's
New Measurement Train .References
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