Mayor appoints First Deputy Mayor

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, is delighted to announce that Tim Parker has agreed to become First Deputy Mayor and Chief Executive of the GLA Group. The Mayor will also nominate Tim to be Chairman of Transport for London from 1st September 2008.

Tim Parker is one of the UK's most successful businessmen with an impressive track record of bringing out the best in a wide range of major companies, including the AA, Kwik-Fit, Clarks and Kenwood. He also has considerable experience of public service, having worked in the Treasury and served as a board member of the Audit Commission and a Regional Development Agency and as chairman of the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund.

Tim Parker will take up his post on the 7 July 2008. He has agreed to take no salary.

Boris Johnson said: "Tim Parker is ideally and uniquely equipped for the huge challenge of improving the lives of Londoners and delivering value for money. His skills, insight and experience will be invaluable. I'm thrilled that he's agreed to take the position and am grateful that he's agreed to do so effectively for free.�

Tim Parker said: "I relish this opportunity to bring out the best in the GLA Group. I've spent my career taking over struggling companies and making them strong. I see wonderful opportunities to transform the infrastructure of London and deliver better services to Londoners. Throughout my business career, I have been accountable to exacting shareholders. In my new role, my shareholders will be the taxpayers of London. Throughout my career I have tried to focus companies on the core product demanded by consumers. My core products now will be the key services vital to Londoners. I feel honoured to be offered the opportunity and look forward to taking up my post in July."

Tim Parker has decided to step down from all other business interests, except his position as an unpaid non-executive director of a media company in Australia, a commitment which involves two days a year.

He is married with four children, plays the flute and loves art, opera and running. He is 52.

He was chairman of the Labour Party at Oxford University (where he read politics, philosophy and economics), but left the party many years ago.

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