John Armitt
Encyclopedia
John Alexander Armitt, CBE
FREng
(born 2 February 1946, Edmonton
), is the Chairman of the Olympic Delivery Authority
, the body charged with building the venues, facilities and infrastructure for the 2012 Olympic Games. The appointment commenced on 1 September 2007.
He is also Chairman of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
from 1 April 2007 for a four-year period. This was extended by a further year on 10 December 2010 by Minister for Universities and Science David Willetts
from the Portsmouth College of Technology
in 1966 and took his first job with John Laing Construction.
. From 1997 to 2001 he was Chief Executive of Costain Group
, which he converted from an annual loss of £62M to a profit of £6.5M. In 2001 he became Chief Executive of Railtrack
, and from 2002 to 2007 its successor, Network Rail
,
the not-for-dividend company which owns, maintains, and runs the railway infrastructure in the UK.
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. Armitt’s salary and bonus of £878,000 - rising to more than £1m when pension contributions are included, overtaking Adam Crozier
, chief executive of Royal Mail
.
, but is now divorced. He lives with his partner.
powercar after himself at London Euston. The powercar in question forms part of Network Rail's New Measurement Train. He is a Fellow
of the Royal Academy of Engineering
and of the Institution of Civil Engineers
. In 1997 he was awarded the CBE
for services to the rail industry.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
FREng
Royal Academy of Engineering
-Overview: is the UK’s national academy of engineering. The Academy brings together the most successful and talented engineers from across the engineering sectors for a shared purpose: to advance and promote excellence in engineering....
(born 2 February 1946, Edmonton
Edmonton, London
Edmonton is an area in the east of the London Borough of Enfield, England, north-north-east of Charing Cross. It has a long history as a settlement distinct from Enfield.-Location:...
), is the Chairman of the Olympic Delivery Authority
Olympic Delivery Authority
The Olympic Delivery Authority is the statutory corporation responsible for ensuring delivery of venues, infrastructure and legacy for the 2012 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in London...
, the body charged with building the venues, facilities and infrastructure for the 2012 Olympic Games. The appointment commenced on 1 September 2007.
He is also Chairman of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council is a British Research Council that provides government funding for grants to undertake research and postgraduate degrees in engineering and the physical sciences , mainly to universities in the United Kingdom...
from 1 April 2007 for a four-year period. This was extended by a further year on 10 December 2010 by Minister for Universities and Science David Willetts
David Willetts
David Linsay Willetts is a British Conservative Party politician and the Minister of State for Universities and Science. He is the Member of Parliament representing the constituency of Havant in Hampshire.-Education:...
Early life
Armitt was born in February 1946 in North London. He is 6 ft 4 in tall. He attended Portsmouth Northern Grammar School. He graduated in Civil EngineeringCivil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
from the Portsmouth College of Technology
University of Portsmouth
The University of Portsmouth is a university in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. The University was ranked 60th out of 122 in The Sunday Times University Guide...
in 1966 and took his first job with John Laing Construction.
Work
He spent 27 years with John Laing plc, on various projects including the Sizewell B nuclear power station rising to become the Chairman of Laing's International and Civil Engineering Divisions. In 1993 he was appointed Chief Executive of Union Railways, the company responsible for implementing the Channel Tunnel rail linkChannel Tunnel Rail Link
High Speed 1 , officially known as the Channel Tunnel Rail Link and originally as the Continental Main Line , is a high-speed railway line running from London through Kent to the British end of the Channel Tunnel.The line was built to carry international passenger traffic from the United Kingdom...
. From 1997 to 2001 he was Chief Executive of Costain Group
Costain Group
Costain Group plc is a British construction and civil engineering company headquartered in Maidenhead. It was part of the original Channel Tunnel consortium and is involved in Private Finance Initiative projects.-History:...
, which he converted from an annual loss of £62M to a profit of £6.5M. In 2001 he became Chief Executive of Railtrack
Railtrack
Railtrack was a group of companies that owned the track, signalling, tunnels, bridges, level crossings and all but a handful of the stations of the British railway system from its formation in April 1994 until 2002...
, and from 2002 to 2007 its successor, Network Rail
Network Rail
Network Rail is the government-created owner and operator of most of the rail infrastructure in Great Britain .; it is not responsible for railway infrastructure in Northern Ireland...
,
the not-for-dividend company which owns, maintains, and runs the railway infrastructure in the UK.
During his time at Network Rail he was believed by a survey sponsored by The Sunday Times
The Sunday Times (UK)
The Sunday Times is a Sunday broadsheet newspaper, distributed in the United Kingdom. The Sunday Times is published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of News International, which is in turn owned by News Corporation. Times Newspapers also owns The Times, but the two papers were founded...
to be the highest-paid public-sector employee in the UK. Armitt’s salary and bonus of £878,000 - rising to more than £1m when pension contributions are included, overtaking Adam Crozier
Adam Crozier
Adam Crozier is a Scottish businessman, and the current chief executive officer of media company ITV plc, operator of the television channel ITV in England and Wales...
, chief executive of Royal Mail
Royal Mail
Royal Mail is the government-owned postal service in the United Kingdom. Royal Mail Holdings plc owns Royal Mail Group Limited, which in turn operates the brands Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide...
.
Personal life
He has a son (born 1974) and a daughter (born 1971), and two grandchildren. He married Mavis Sage in 1969 in HounslowHounslow
Hounslow is the principal town in the London Borough of Hounslow. It is a suburban development situated 10.6 miles west south-west of Charing Cross. It forms a post town in the TW postcode area.-Etymology:...
, but is now divorced. He lives with his partner.
Recognition
On July 16, 2007, Armitt named a Class 43 HSTBritish Rail Class 43 (HST)
The British Rail Class 43 is the TOPS classification used for the InterCity 125 High Speed Train power cars, built by BREL from 1975 to 1982....
powercar after himself at London Euston. The powercar in question forms part of Network Rail's New Measurement Train. He is a Fellow
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
of the Royal Academy of Engineering
Royal Academy of Engineering
-Overview: is the UK’s national academy of engineering. The Academy brings together the most successful and talented engineers from across the engineering sectors for a shared purpose: to advance and promote excellence in engineering....
and of the Institution of Civil Engineers
Institution of Civil Engineers
Founded on 2 January 1818, the Institution of Civil Engineers is an independent professional association, based in central London, representing civil engineering. Like its early membership, the majority of its current members are British engineers, but it also has members in more than 150...
. In 1997 he was awarded the CBE
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
for services to the rail industry.
External links
- EPRSC
- London 2012
- John Armitt CBE FREng Ingenia, Issue 27, June 2006