Elaine Holt

With 30 years of experience in the transport and service industry, Elaine is highly experienced in working in complex, highly regulated environments which are subject to intense public, political and media scrutiny. In addition to her wide, board level experience in construction and infrastructure she also has extensive railway operations experience and has a successful track record of running large customer operations and managing organisations through periods of significant change.

Elaine has served over 6 years as a Non-Executive Director (NED) of Highways England overseeing the delivery of the largest investment in the country’s strategic road network in 40 years. She is currently Senior Independent NED for Bristol Holding Ltd, ensuring that Bristol City Council’s investments in new businesses in energy, housing and waste recycling are governed correctly and deliver the social and economic value required of them.

Prior to this, she held a number of senior roles within the UK rail industry including Chairman and CEO of Directly Operated Railways, Chairman of East Coast and Managing Director of First Capital Connect. Elaine was also Executive Vice President Guest Experience at Carnival UK running all operations of P&O Cruises and Cunard.

Elaine was appointed as Deputy Chair of the HS2 Ltd board on 9 February 2023. She will support the Chair in leading the board.