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Theo de Pencier joins board of Passenger Focus, the independent rail and strategic road user watchdog.

Transport Minister John Hayes today (25 March 2015) announced the appointment of a new member to the board of Passenger Focus, the organisation that will represent users of the strategic road network in England in addition to public transport users.

Theo de Pencier will start a 4-year term from 1 May 2015. From 1 April 2015, Passenger Focus will take on a new role representing the interests of road users. To coincide with this, Passenger Focus will be renamed as ‘Transport Focus’.

John Hayes said:

I am confident Theo de Pencier’s appointment will be an excellent addition to the board of Transport Focus, especially for its new role in protecting the interests of the strategic road user.

Theo de Pencier said:

I am really looking forward to joining the board of an organisation that I have admired for many years. I hope that Transport Focus will be able to champion the views of users of the strategic road network with the same success that they have for passengers using the rail and bus networks.

Passenger Focus is the independent public body set up by the government to represent the interests of rail passengers in England, Scotland and Wales, bus and tram passengers in England (outside of London) and passengers on scheduled domestic coach services in England.

All members of the Passenger Focus board are appointed in accordance with the code of practice issued by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

The new board member has been appointed for a 4-year term. Remuneration will be £12,000 for a time commitment of 4 days a month.

Theo de Pencier will shortly retire as the chief executive of the Freight Transport Association, a position which he has held since 2007. He is also a non-executive director of the London Ambulance Service NHS Trust as well as being a member of the DfT’s Motorists Forum and a former member of the CBI President’s committee.