Highways England rebranded National Highways

Highways England will change its name to National Highways, with Nick Harris confirmed as the new chief executive.

The Government said that the name change reflects "the new focus the company has on delivering the Government’s £27 billion strategic roads investment programme, while also continuing to set highways standards for the whole UK".

Harris, who joined Highways England in 2016 and has been acting chief executive since February this year, will lead the organisation as it delivers this investment, and looks towards the future opportunities offered by automation and digitisation as well as delivering the government’s legal requirement to acheive net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Highways England chair, Dipesh J Shah, said: “I am delighted to appoint Nick as our CEO. Now, more than ever, our infrastructure schemes have an important and perhaps unique role to play in helping our economy to recover.   

“Nick’s steady hand throughout the last few months has established a solid foundation to help us on our journey to transform how we work with our supply chain, how we deliver our net zero carbon and how we realise our digitalisation ambitions”. 

Harris will have a particular focus on continued road safety improvements and "the transformation of National Highways as a global leader in road building and maintenance, as well as delivering world class health and safety", the Government said. 

Commenting on his appointent, Harris said: “I am pleased to be taking up the reins at such an exciting time. We have achieved a great deal and there is still more to be done. 

“As we deliver the second roads investment strategy ensuring the safety of all road users, the delivery of our work and the benefits to our customers remains at the centre of our organisation.” 

Transport secretary Grant Shapps said: “Nick will be an excellent CEO and I’m looking forward to continuing to work closely with him as we build back better across the country. 

“Nick will steer Highways England into an exciting new chapter, as it evolves into National Highways and delivers on our £27bn plan to improve our roads and make journeys safer, smoother and greener.”