Crossrail chief executive explains shock resignation

The outgoing chief executive of Crossrail has refuted suggestions that a personality clash or frustration with governance were the reasons behind his surprise resignation last month.

Speaking to the London Assembly’s Transport Committee today, Rob Holden said there was “no one specific reason” for resigning, suggesting his skill set was not suited to the role moving forward.

“The skill sets need to be different to the ones I have: less management and more engineering,” he said. “Lots of things I have done will hopefully be one-offs, such as getting the project through review part three and turning it into a delivery project.”

Holden also tried to play down reports of a personality clash with Crossrail chairman, Terry Morgan.

“I wish people would stop listening to rumours,” he said. “I am very frustrated that these issues are being raised. This project is not about me – Crossrail is more than individuals. My engineering colleagues will be benefit from a person who can talk in engineering language. I don’t see what the problem is.”

The complex governance of Crossrail, with both Transport for London and the Department for Transport holding the purse strings, is also thought to have played a part in Holden’s resignation and he admitted he found it “difficult to adapt”.

“They are arrangements which we have to work around,” he said. “I don’t want to make too much of an issue of it. I found it difficult to adapt and want to move on.”

Morgan insisted that the £16bn project is still on track. “People can say what they like but measure us on the outputs we are delivering,” he said.