HS1 Leadership Team

Keith Ludeman

Chairman, HS1 Ltd

Keith is an experienced Non-Executive Director and Chairperson, with a strong industrial and commercial background. He was appointed to the HS1 Ltd Board as Chairman designate in April 2018.

Keith is currently Chairman of London Luton Airport, and Chair of the Board of Trustees at the London Transport Museum. He is also the Senior Independent Director of Eversholt Rail Group.

He was previously Chairman of Bristol Water PLC, Senior Independent Director of Network Rail, Chairman of Aspin Group and TXM Plant, Chairman of the Association of Train Operating Companies, and a Non-Executive Director of Interserve PLC.   

ROBERT SINCLAIR

Chief Executive Officer, HS1 Ltd

Robert joins HS1 Ltd as Chief Executive Officer, in his most recent role he led the business at London City Airport for six years.

Robert’s appointment follows an extensive search process and comes at a time when HS1 is actively working to grow traffic and international rail travel from the UK, boosting benefits for passengers and businesses travelling to the continent.

Robert comes to the role with broad experience in legal and banking professional services in addition to expertise in the transport sector.  He joins HS1 with a track record of fostering growth in transport hubs at an exciting time for the company.

Wendy Spinks

Chief Commercial Officer, HS1 Ltd

Wendy is a senior commercial professional with over 20 years’ experience representing retail and commercial activities throughout major infrastructure/ transportation hubs. As Commercial Director, Wendy works closely with train operating companies, local stakeholders to each of the HS1 stations and leads the strategy for the commercial property and retail ventures.

Alongside her role, Wendy sits as Chair of Urban Partners, a voluntary business partnership, as well Chair of Camden Business Board.

Before joining HS1 Ltd in 2010, Wendy spent ten years working for BAA at Heathrow, overseeing retail operations for all five terminals, including the retail readiness for the Terminal 5 opening.

Richard Thorp

Chief Operating Officer, HS1 Ltd 

Richard is a Chartered Engineer, with over 25 years’ experience in developing asset management capabilities for both UK main-line and high-speed railways. Responsible for providing client leadership to HS1’s supply chain, fulfilling the Asset Stewardship objectives in the concession agreement and ensuring that HS1 Ltd continues to deliver a world class asset for HS1’s customers.

Richard has previously worked as an Infrastructure Maintenance Delivery Manager for Network Rail, as well as Head of Signalling Control and Communications Engineering, Route Asset Manager (Signals) and Route Asset Systems and Integration Manager at Network Rail.

Richard is also a Director of the High-Speed Rail Group, promoting a world-class High-Speed rail network in the UK. Living in Kent with his wife and two children, he enjoys playing the guitar and cycling, regularly taking part in events and adventures.

MATTIAS BJORNFORS

Chief Strategy and Regulation Officer, HS1 LTD 

Mattias is a regulatory economist with more than 18 years experience in UK regulated industries.  

Mattias joined HS1 in January 2023. As Strategy and Regulation Director he is responsible for the regulatory and rail business development teams, including developing and shaping the strategic direction of the regulatory business to maximise opportunities for growth. Before joining HS1 Mattias was head of regulation at Gatwick Airport, helping guide regulation of the airport under independent ownership following the breakup of BAA. Prior to Gatwick, Mattias held roles in the energy sector, including EdF Energy and Ofgem.

Mattias holds a degree in Financial Economics from the University of St Andrews.

Virginie Merle

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, HS1 LTD

Virginie, a dual French and British citizen, steps into the role with more than 20 years of finance experience. The majority of this time has been in the transport sector, including senior roles at French transport giants Keolis and Transdev, as well as UK rail industry experience with Board positions at Govia Thameslink Railway, Nottingham Trams, Keolis Amey Metrolink and Keolis Amey Docklands. She joins HS1 with a track record of leading finance, procurement, legal, compliance, cyber security and IT teams, as well as stakeholder management.