HS2 rail link CEO, Simon Kirby has accepted a post with Rolls-Royce.
Simon Kirby will be taking up the role of chief operating officer, reporting into the chief executive Warren East.
Earning a reported £750,000 per annum whilst at the HS2 project, Mr Kirby said it had been a "huge honour" to work on the project, which critics believe is controversial as it threatens the countryside.
HS2 Ltd said it would miss Mr Kirby's "experience and leadership", while Rolls-Royce boss Mr East said the appointment would "strengthen management capability ahead of a period of significant expansion".
Stop HS2 campaign manager Joe Rukin has accused Mr Kirby of "getting out” to avoid the “true scale of the mess” is realised". Many are asking what Simon Kirby had actually done to justify his £750k pay packet!
HS2 project links London to the West Midlands
Phase 1 of the HS2 project links London to the West Midlands, carrying trains with up to 1,100 seats per train, 400m-long. HS2 will operate at speeds of up to 250mph - and travel up to 14 times per hour in each way. The second phase would bring the V-shaped phase, taking services from Birmingham to Manchester and Leeds.
Intermediate stations in the East Midlands and South Yorkshire are also planned.
Click here to return to our News section
Click here to view the services we offer
