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Revolving doors as City Hall and Tube chiefs quit
Katharine Barney and Dick Murray, Evening Standard13 May 2008
Two of London's most senior civil servants announced they were quitting today as the dizzying pace of staff changes continued at City Hall.
Anthony Mayer, chief executive of the Greater London Authority, and Mike Brown, chief operating officer of London Underground, revealed they were moving on. Both men made their names under Ken Livingstone's reign and their departures draws a clear line under the former mayor's era.
At the same time, Mr Johnson announced two new senior appointments to his team, with Kulveer Ranger made his transport adviser and Munira Mirza his cultural adviser.
Mr Mayer held the post of chief executive since the GLA was first created eight years ago and was in effect the most senior figure at City Hall after the Mayor.
He will take up a newly created position of chairman of the Office for Tenants and Social Landlord, a new quango charged with finding housing for those in most need. He will start the two-day-a-week job at the end of summer but no replacement has yet been announced.
Mr Johnson today said: "I wish him well in his new ventures and would like to thank him for making me and the new team feel so welcome at City Hall."
Mr Mayer has been criticised for taking a hands-off approach and leaving former mayor Ken Livingstone to govern as he wished. Some said he should have intervened more in some cases, especially in instances such as the allegations centring on Lee Jasper and the London Development Agency. Mr Mayer said: "The time is right to move on and I wish the new Mayor and his team all the best."
Mr Brown is leaving London Underground to take charge of Heathrow's Terminal 5, joining airport owner BAA as managing director of Heathrow Airport. As one of the key people in charge of London Underground his departure is a huge loss for Boris Johnson.
Mr Brown was largely responsible for getting the Tube back up and running following the 7/7 terrorist bombings in which 52 people lost their lives. His replacement is likely to be his deputy, Howard Collins.
Mr Brown today denied his job change had anything to do with Mr Johnson taking over as Mayor. He told the Standard: "This has nothing to do with the change of Mayor, negotiations started well before the election." He replaces Mark Bullock at BAA who has "chosen to leave the company" following structural changes announced by new chief executive Colin Matthews.
Mr Johnson continued to recruit City Hall advisers today as he fulfilled his campaign pledge to make his top team reflect the ethnic diversity of London. Kulveer Ranger, 32, was given title of Director for Transport Policy. The most senior Sikh in the Conservative party hierarchy, he was David Cameron's vice-chairman until the shift to his new post. A former Parliamentary candidate, he is a management consultant who was "lead delivery manager" of the Oyster card when it was introduced in 2003.
Black youth leader Ray Lewis was appointed as Deputy Mayor for Young People last week and Asian arts commentator Munira Mirza is expected to be announced as his new Deputy Mayor for the Arts tomorrow.
