National Highways CEO Nick Harris to Step Down

Nick Harris is to step down as Chief Executive of National Highways, ending five years at the helm of the government-owned company responsible for England’s motorways and major roads.

The announcement was confirmed by the organisation in a statement issued late last month. Harris will remain in post during a short transition period while arrangements are made for interim leadership. A process to appoint his successor is expected to begin in the spring.

Harris became chief executive in 2021, overseeing the transition from Highways England to National Highways, a change intended to reflect the company’s broader strategic role within the transport system. His tenure has spanned delivery of the government’s Road Investment Strategy, ongoing smart motorway schemes, and the operational pressures that followed the pandemic.

In a message to staff, Harris said leading the organisation had been “one of the greatest privileges” of his career, adding that with the next five-year investment period approaching, it was the right moment for new leadership.

His departure comes at a significant time for the strategic road network. National Highways is facing increasing scrutiny over safety performance, project delivery costs and the future direction of smart motorway policy. Industry sources have suggested that tensions at board level may have preceded the decision, although the organisation has described the move as a planned transition.

The change in leadership will be closely watched across the sector. National Highways manages more than 4,500 miles of road, carrying a third of all traffic and two-thirds of freight in England. With major infrastructure commitments and tightening public finances shaping the years ahead, the incoming chief executive will face immediate strategic and political challenges.

Further details on interim arrangements are expected in the coming weeks.

Oliver Bennett

Oliver Bennett is a logistics specialist focused on transport management and operational efficiency. His work centres on route optimisation, supply chain reliability and improving the movement of goods across domestic and international networks.

See author's posts