NEW NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS APPOINTED

Tuesday 12 Jan 2010

NEW NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS APPOINTED

Region & Route:: National

Network Rail announces today enhancement of its board with the appointment of two new non-executive directors - Lawrie Haynes and Janis Kong.

Lawrie Haynes is a successful chairman and chief executive with a heavyweight CV that includes:

currently the president - nuclear, Rolls-Royce
former chief executive of White Young Green plc (2007-2009)
BNFL plc (2003-2007), main board director and former chief executive of British Nuclear Group
ex-chief executive of the Highways Agency (1994-1999)

Mr Haynes is also on the board of trustees for the RAF Benevolent Fund and chairman of its pension fund.

His general business experience and, in particular, his mission-critical project and safety management expertise will be a valuable addition to the Board.

Janis Kong has a long history of operating businesses where customer relationships have been critical to success and has held non-executive directorships with large plcs:

non-executive director at Kingfisher plc, Visit Britain, Portmeirion plc, Forum for the Future
former main board director of BAA plc (2002- 2006)
former chairman Heathrow Express 2005 to 2006
former chairman of Heathrow Airport (2001-2006)
managing director of Gatwick airport (1997-2001)
previous non-executive directorship : RBS

Announcing the appointments, Network Rail’s chairman, Rick Haythornthwaite, said: “I believe that the current cadre of non-executive directors has done an excellent job supporting and counselling the executive management team in the journey from bringing Railtrack out of administration to a functioning, capable railway that is operating at record levels of safety, punctuality, reliability and capacity.

“Today we face new challenges and opportunities and the composition of the board must reflect that. The appointment of these highly-experienced and capable individuals give Network Rail renewed corporate oversight. This will be vital as we continue our job to deliver a high-performing, bigger and better railway."

Recognising the need to contain the size of the board and in order to effect a smooth transition, it is planned that Ian Buchan and Yvonne Constance will stand down from the board between now and the AGM in July.

Commenting on Ian and Yvonne's forthcoming departure Mr Haythornthwaite said: "Ian and Yvonne will leave with our great appreciation for their strong counsel and contribution to the company during challenging years and our thanks for the selfless manner in which that have applied themselves to the Board reshaping process."

Notes to editors

The appointments were proposed at a recent meeting of the board’s nominations committee and will join the Board later this month. Network Rail Members will vote on their appointment at the company’s annual general meeting in July

Lawrie Haynes:

2009: President - nuclear, Rolls-Royce
2007 to 2009: White Young Green plc, chief executive
2003 to 2007: BNFL plc, BNFL plc main board director, , British Nuclear Group, chief executive
2000 to 2002: Lattice Group plc, group managing director, telecoms; chief executive 186k Ltd; chairman SST Ltd
1999 to 2000: PricewaterhouseCoopers, partner
1994 to 1999: Highways Agency, chief executive
1992 to 1994: British Aerospace plc, project director (restructuring/M&A)
1989 to 1992: Microtel Communications Ltd (now known as Orange), managing director
Other: Board of trustees for the RAF benevolent fund and chairman of its pension fund and remuneration committee; FRSA, FIHT, FCIT

Janis Kong;

2006: Kingfisher plc, non-executive director
2006: VisitBritain, non-executive director
2006: Forum for the Future, chairman
2000: Portmeirion Group plc, non-executive director
2006 to 2009: RBS, non-executive director
2005 to 2006: Heathrow Express, chairman
2002-2006: BAA plc, main board member
2001 to 2006 Heathrow Airport, chairman
1997 to 2001: Gatwick Airport, managing director
1994 to 1997: Gatwick Airport, operations director

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