Network Rail has named the acting chair who is replacing Lord Peter Hendy, after he was appointed rail minister at the Department for Transport on 8 July.

His successor for now is Network Rail senior non-executive director Mike Putnam.

Mr Putnam, who is a chartered engineer, joined the Board of Network Rail in 2018 and has over 25 years’ executive experience in the development, construction and services sectors.

He was president and chief executive officer of Skanska UK plc until May 2017, and is currently an independent non-executive director of TransPennine Route Upgrade, a non-executive director of Bazalgette Tunnel Limited (Thames Tideway), vice-chair of the Supervisory Board of Arcadis NV and a non-executive director with Finning Inc of Vancouver. He has also been a non-executive director of Southern Water Services for the past seven years, but will be stepping down at the end of July.

Network Rail chief executive Andrew Haines said: ‘Mike has been an invaluable member of our Board for over six years and his immense experience will continue to be a huge asset to the Board, to me and to the company.’

Mike Putnam added: ‘Peter’s are big shoes to fill as I help to push Network Rail forward to address its key priorities of running a safe and better performing railway, whilst helping Andrew to get the company, and the whole industry ready, for its journey into a new chapter with the establishment of Great British Railways.’

Network Rail said the process of appointing a permanent successor to Lord Hendy will begin ‘in due course’ and be led by the transport secretary, Louise Haigh.