Richard Brown (transport executive) explained

Richard Brown
Birth Name:Richard Howard Brown
Birth Date:1953 2, df=yes
Occupation:Transport executive
Years Active:1970s–
Spouse:Gweno L. Brown
Children:2 daughters, 1 son

Richard Howard Brown (born 23 February 1953[1]) is a British transport executive. Until 30 June 2013 he was the chairman of Eurostar International Limited, having previously been Eurostar UK Ltd's chief executive between August 2002 and April 2010.[2] [3] [4]

Brown was chair of the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) in both 2000 and 2001. He previously worked in British Rail's freight business, migrating to BR's InterCity Planning division. He was heavily involved with BR's "Organising For Quality" project which divided British Rail into separate businesses. With that Brown headed up the combined InterCity Cross Country and Midland Mainline. Brown moved to Derby and continued as the head of Midland Mainline before, during and after the privatisation of British Rail.[5] The franchise win by National Express led to Brown becoming head of its new rail unit, and a commercial director of NEG itself.

Brown was president of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport[6] for one year, having taken over at the end of May 2008.[7] He was appointed to the board of High Speed Two Ltd in 2012,[8] where he has served as the chair of the remuneration committee since July 2012.[9]

During late 2012, Brown was commissioned to undertake an independent review of the system of rail franchising in Great Britain for the United Kingdom's Department for Transport, which was published in January 2013.[10] Brown was later appointed as a non-executive member to the board of the Department for Transport for a three-year period beginning on 15 July 2013.[11] In June 2015, Brown was made a special director of Network Rail, reporting directly to Secretary of State for Transport Patrick McLoughlin.[12] [13]

Personal life

Richard Brown met his wife Gweno on a skiing trip and they have three grown-up children:[14] two daughters and one son.[15] He lives in Littleover,[16] Derby, and commutes weekly to a flat in London.[15]

Brown studied philosophy[17] and engineering at the University of Cambridge,[14] received an MPhil in town and transport planning from University College London,[14] and later studied at Harvard University.[18] He received an honorary doctorate from the University of Derby[19] in 2008.[20] In the Queen's Birthday Honours 2007, Brown was appointed as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to transport.[21] [22]

Rail franchising

During late 2012, Brown was commissioned to undertake an independent review of the system of rail franchising for the Department for Transport. This was published in January 2013 as "The Brown Review of the Rail Franchising Programme". The report noted that "in a well-functioning, good franchise system you sometimes have failure", but that a number of procedural faults made failure more likely. Among other recommendations, the report stated that franchisees should (only) be responsible for the risks they can manage, and that "macroeconomic, or exogenous, revenue risk" should not be passed on to franchisees.[23]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Richard Brown, Esq, CBE. People of Today. Debrett's. 3 October 2012.
  2. News: Rail boss steps down to devote time to Government role. Derby Telegraph. 17 May 2013. 25 September 2013.
  3. Eurostar International appoints Clare Hollingsworth as Chairman. 16 May 2013. 25 September 2013. Mary. Walsh. Leigh. Calder. Eurostar International. Eurostar website.
  4. News: Richard Brown to step down from Eurostar. Rail News. 16 May 2013. 25 September 2013.
  5. The Rail Professional Interview: Richard Brown: Chief Executive of Eurostar. Rail Professional. 21 January 2008. 131. 12–15. Interview. Katie. Silvester. 3 October 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120722124738/http://www.railpro.co.uk/magazine/archive/PDFs/feb08_interview.pdf. 22 July 2012. dead.
  6. Web site: Richard Brown CBE FCILT Chief Executive Eurostar. 2 November 2008. 3 October 2012. Speakers. Green Business Events. biography.
  7. News: Brown makes climate change top of his agenda. Rail News. 30 May 2008. 3 October 2012.
  8. Web site: Eurostar chairman among four appointments to HS2 board. 28 June 2012. 3 October 2012. Construction News. Tom. Fitzpatrick. EMAP.
  9. Minutes. HS2 Ltd Board Meeting 24 July 2012. HS2 Board Room, Eland House, Bressenden Place, London, SW1E 5DU. Minutes. 11.2 It was agreed … to appoint Richard Brown as Chair of the Remuneration Committee.. 4. High Speed Two.
  10. Book: Brown, Richard. The Brown Review of the Rail Franchising Programme. 9780101852623. The Stationery Office. Richard Brown (transport). 10 January 2013. 25 September 2013.
  11. Richard Brown appointed to the Department for Transport Board. Department for Transport. Department for Transport. 18 July 2013. 25 September 2013.
  12. News: Government freezes rail upgrades and replaces Network Rail boss. The Guardian. Gwyn. Topham. Helen. Pidd. 26 June 2015. 11 August 2015. McLoughlin said [he was] appointing a special director to report directly to him. Richard Brown, a former Eurostar chairman.
  13. News: Regulator proposes splitting Network Rail into eight businesses. Financial Times. Gill. Plimmer. 15 July 2015. 11 August 2015. Richard Brown, a former head of Eurostar, has been appointed special director of Network Rail to monitor progress..
  14. Richard Brown Eurostar's Derbyshire Resident Chief Executive. Derbyshire Life. Alex. Carlisle. 12 March 2010. 3 October 2012. Archant Life.
  15. News: Eurostar feeding on hunger for travel. Andrew. Cave. 12 April 2009. 3 October 2012. The Telegraph. London.
  16. News: Eurostar's new chairman will take reins next year. Derbyshire Evening Telegraph. 9 December 2009. 3 October 2012.
  17. News: High noon at Marsham Street. 9 October 2012. Andy. Milne. Railstaff. 24 February 2013.
  18. Web site: Richard Brown. Entrepreneurs Partners. Advisory Board. 3 October 2012. biography. https://web.archive.org/web/20120507101837/http://entrepreneurspartners.com/?page_id=814. 7 May 2012. dead.
  19. Web site: Richard Brown – Honorary Doctor of University (HonDUniv). Honoraries. University of Derby. 31 January 2008. 3 October 2012.
  20. Awards '08: Time To Celebrate!. https://web.archive.org/web/20100508122944/http://www.derby.ac.uk/files/connected_issue_20_february_2008.pdf. dead. 2010-05-08. Connected. 20. February 2008. University of Derby. 7. Peter. Gallimore. Simon. Redfern. Sean. Kirby. Simon. Butt. Anne. Wake.
  21. Web site: Interview: Richard Brown, Eurostar. Sarah. Longbottom. 29 February 2008. Travel Weekly. 3 October 2012. Travel Weekly Group.
  22. Web site: Eurostar's Richard Brown appointed Chair of Catalyst Housing. 2 June 2011. Catalyst Housing. Uncategorized. 3 October 2012.
  23. House of Commons Transport Committee, Intercity East Coast Franchise: Fifth Report of Session 2017–19, paragraphs 20 and 61, published 12 September 2018, accessed 28 October 2023

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