Crossrail boss quits—after less than 2 years

THE boss of Crossrail is quitting, it has emerged tonight—Rob Holden is to leave after less than two years.

He joined as chief executive at the company’s Canary Wharf HQ in April, 2009, having previously been responsible for steering through the high speed link from St Pancras through East London to the Channel Tunnel.

His first task was getting work started on Crossrail’s Canary Wharf station that month.

Rail industry observers were surprised by his early departure, with the �17 billion project still seven years from completion.

But the 54-year-old managed to protect London’s new ‘super tube’ link to Heathow Airport from Government spending cuts, although completion date has been pushed back a year to 2018.

He is making his career move—just a month after awarding the tunneling contracts—because he realizes he will be 63 by the time Crossrail is ready to open, it is understood, and is keen to take on other projects.