Transport for West Midlands appoints new executive director

Midlands: Anne Shaw has been appointed as executive director of Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) having led the organisation on an interim basis for the past six months.

She brings vast experience working in the region’s transport sector and will be expected to see current major infrastructure projects through to completion as well as oversee delivery of a further £1.3 billion investment over the next five years.

During four years as director of network resilience with TfWM, a role which involved keeping the region moving, she set up and opened the ground-breaking Regional Transport Co-ordination Centre (RTCC).

The RTCC is now working round the clock, bringing together local authorities, emergency services and transport operators, to plan for major events and deal with transport disruption ensuring that residents and businesses have the best travel information.

She also oversaw the development of the new Commonwealth Games Transport Plan which sets out how the region’s transport system will accommodate more than a million visitors later this year.

Last year Anne and West Midlands Combined Authority chief executive Laura Shoaf, were chosen by Government as champions to lead on efforts to tackle violence against women and girls on public transport.

Before joining TfWM, Anne worked with Birmingham City Council’s transport department, starting on the shop floor as a junior technician and working her way up to assistant director.

Anne said: “It is huge honour to be appointed to lead TfWM. We have a fantastic team and have built great working relationships with our partners across the transport sector. I am relishing the challenges ahead as we look to improve and expand our transport system.

“This is not just about rails and wheels – our investment connects communities and opens up opportunities for people giving them easier access to jobs, training and leisure opportunities. It will also play a massive part in meeting the climate change challenge and helping the region towards its net-zero carbon targets.”

TfWM is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority.

Cllr Ian Ward, WMCA portfolio holder for transport and leader of Birmingham City Council said: “We had every confidence in Anne when she was appointed to lead TfWM on an interim basis last year and she has more than proved up to the role.

“We therefore had no hesitation in making this this appointment permanent – the region is in good hands going forward as we look forward to the Commonwealth Games, the arrival of HS2 and the further growth of our rail, road, tram, bus and cycling networks.”