Oxera has appointed Robert Catherall to its senior Transport team.

• Rob has held multiple senior positions at the UK Department for Transport (DfT) and has 15 years’ experience in the civil service.
• He was nominated by Sir Peter Hendy (Chair of Network Rail and the Secretary of State’s COVID Travel Tsar) and his team for the Inspirational Leadership Civil Service Award.

At a time of reform in the rail sector, Rob will be working closely with Oxera’s transport team to support governments, businesses and regulators to navigate these changes.

Before joining Oxera, Rob was Deputy Director of Local Infrastructure at the UK Department for Transport (DfT), where he led a team responsible for the strategy and delivery of local transport funding and projects. This included delivering a £10bn portfolio of around 200 projects and funding to Local Authorities for roads and public transport.

During the pandemic, Rob led a DfT team of policy, analytical and commercial experts to design and implement (at very short notice) novel measures that ensured bus, trams and taxis could operate safely, and that improvements and maintenance could continue for local roads and cycling and walking infrastructure.

Andrew Meaney, Oxera Partner, said:

‘We are delighted to welcome Rob to our team of transport experts at this time of reform and change. He brings a wealth of experience, connections and expertise in strategy and policy, which will offer fantastic insights for our clients throughout Europe and beyond.’

Rob added:

‘I am delighted to join Oxera as a Principal working on transport economics and public policy projects. I’m passionate about making an impact with analysis, and with the transport and wider public sector facing unprecedented challenges and opportunities, there isn’t a more important time to do this. I’m very much looking forward to working with new clients and the great team at Oxera, drawing on my experience working on rail, airports, bus, roads, housing and welfare.’