The Great Britain Young Leaders were honoured to welcome Mike Brown MVO, CBE to the Lansdowne Club in Mayfair on Tuesday 24th May for our first Leadership Series of 2022.
A graduate of Queens University Belfast, Mike moved to London in the mid 80s to take up a marketing role with Rank Hovis McDougall. When an opportunity arose to join a new executive programme at London Underground, Mike grabbed the opportunity with both hands. This started him on a career path that saw him rise to the position of Chief Operating Officer in 2003 and following a two-year move to Heathrow Airport as MD, he returned as MD of London Underground and London Rail and was later appointed as Commissioner of Transport for London by then Mayor of London, Boris Johnson in 2015. His time at London Underground and Transport for London saw many highs, including the delivery of the public transport services required for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the transformation of the London Underground network, the delivery of a greener cleaner bus fleet, and the introduction of the first Ultra Low Emission Zone in Europe. It also saw times of great challenge and crisis, including the 7/7 bombings on London Underground and the Sandilands tram crash in 2016.
Mike, who is now Chair of the Restoration & Renewal Delivery Authority for Houses of Parliament / Palace of Westminster, shared with the group the lessons he has learned during his illustrious career.
Mike was good humoured and incredibly generous with his time and expertise, and it was a pleasure to be in his company.
Photo credits: Dermot Skinnader / Katie Jemmett
