A NELSON man has been hired as the new chief financial officer at HS2.

Michael Bradley CB has switched from Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), an arms-length body of the Ministry of Defence, where he was currently chief financial officer and director of general resources and has been Acting CEO since December 2017.

Mr Bradley will be responsible for managing the financial affairs of a multi-billion Government body, Michael has extensive experience in both the public and private sectors and will lead the finance team, corporate sponsorship and the programme management office.

Mr Bradley said: “I am looking forward to joining the team at HS2 Ltd. This is a fantastic project – that will deliver significant benefits – and I am excited to be a part of it.”

Chief executive Mark Thurston added: “Michael is an excellent addition to the HS2 Ltd team and brings a wealth of experience with him to this important role.

"HS2 Ltd is a hugely important project that will leave a significant economic legacy here in the UK and it is imperative that we have the best people in place to deliver our ambitions.”