Peter Hendy

This article is about the British Peter Hendy. For the Australian Peter Hendy, see Peter William Hendy.

Peter Hendy, CBE (born 19 March 1953) is the current Commissioner of Transport for London.

Early career

He started his career in the public transport industry in 1975 as a London Transport graduate trainee. He moved up the career ladder, and eventually took on the role of Managing Director of CentreWest London Buses Ltd, managing it under London Transport ownership.

He led the company through a management buyout with staff involvement, and subsequent expansion. After the takeover of CentreWest by FirstGroup plc, Hendy became Deputy Director UK Bus for FirstGroup, responsible for bus operations in London and southern England, bus development, light rail and operations in Hong Kong.

Transport for London career

In 2001, he was appointed to the position of Managing Director of Surface Transport for Transport for London, under Ken Livingstone's mayoralty of London.

Hendy's annual salary from Transport for London is £348,444.

On 17 January 2006, he was appointed Commissioner of Transport for London, taking up the position on 1 February 2006.

During the London mayoral election, 2008, Hendy came under fire in the media, specifically The Evening Standard, over leaked emails. The emails detailed attempts by TfL to reject claims by the Conservative candidate, Boris Johnson, about the safety of 'bendy buses'. Hendy is contractually obliged to remain politically neutral, but it is unclear to what extent this was a justified defence of his own organisation's policies.

Honours

In the 2006 New Year's Honours List, Hendy was awarded the CBE, along with the Managing Director of the Underground, US national Tim O'Toole, for his work in keeping public transport in London running during the 7 July 2005 London bombings. O'Toole's award was honorary as he is not a British subject.

Personal life

Peter Hendy is married to Sue Pendle (a human resources consultant). They have two children, David and Anna.

References

• Award of the CBE (Downing Street)
• Appointment as Commissioner of Transport
• Interview with 'The Guardian' on his first day as Commissioner of Transport
• Article on allegations over leaked emails

External links

• "Block Boris" Says Ken’s Transport for London Commissar
• TfL chief's threat to police over bendy bus 'criticism'
• Mayor's bus boss and 'nail Boris' emails
• Hendy's drink smear on bendy bus victim