Byford takes helm as New York City Transit's president

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has appointed Andy Byford president of MTA New York City Transit (NYCT). He will assume the post in January.

Byford joins the agency after a five-year stint as chief executive officer of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), the third-largest transit system in North America. During his TTC tenure, Byford spearheaded a number of initiatives, such as the development of a plan to modernize the agency and improve all aspects of operational performance.

He began his transit career at the London Underground, where he rose to the position of general manager of the Central, Bakerloo and Victoria lines. Byford also served as chief operating officer of Australia's largest transit system in Sydney, NYCT officials said in a press release.

"In order to truly stabilize, modernize and improve our transit system, we needed a leader who has done this work at world-class systems, and Andy's successes in Toronto are evidence that he is up to this critically important task," said MTA Chairman Joseph Lhota.

Byford also will help NYCT implement its Subway Action Plan that launched in summer, Lhota added. The plan is focused on addressing key drivers of major incidents that lead to subway delays.