Metrolinx names Verster CEO

Metrolinx's board has appointed Phil Verster as the agency's new president and chief executive officer.

He'll begin his duties Oct. 1. Verster succeeds Bruce McCuaig, who earlier this year stepped down to serve in the Privy Council Office in support of the Canada Infrastructure Bank.

Over the past 12 years, Verster directed operations and major construction of rail services in England, Scotland and Ireland.

His most recent assignments as managing director of Great Britain's Network Rail include running Scotland's rail operations and beginning work on the East West Railway, a new rail line between Oxford and Cambridge, England.

Verster will join the agency as it continues work on several major projects, including the electrification of key GO Transit rail lines.

"As we execute this massive transformation, we need to continue providing the current high level of daily transit service that people throughout the region depend on," said Metrolinx Chairman Rob Prichard in a press release. "We sought as our next CEO a person with deep domain expertise and substantial executive experience operating and building railways.

There are few people in the transit and rail industries with the "know-how, experience and executive skills to drive transformation and maintain service at the same time," Prichard added.

During Verster's time running the ScotRail Alliance, he oversaw the electrification of the Scottish railroad. Verster also led efforts to re-launch the East West Railway project through partnerships with municipalities and local leaders while designing and engineering the project in a cost-effective way, Metrolinx officials said.