Dr Sue Sharland, CEO of the Transport Research Foundation and TRL, is to step down later this year.

Sharland’s replacement is Rob Wallis, who has 30 years of professional and business leadership experience, working in the transport, logistics, supply chain and automotive sectors.

Wallis joins from BSI, where he was managing director of the Europe, Middle East and Africa region. Previous roles include directorships at Hedra, EDS and LogicaCMG, having begun his career at the CAA.

Sharland said:  “It has been a privilege and a pleasure to lead TRL over the past 12 years and to develop further our position as an independent provider of world-class transport research, consultancy and technical services. I am delighted that Rob Wallis has been appointed to the role of CEO going forward. I look forward to supporting him in his introduction to the company, our customers and our other stakeholders.”

Sharland will join the presidential team at the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation, in addition to holding a number of non-executive directorships.

Wallis added: “Innovative transport solutions are increasingly crucial to governments, economies and businesses around the world, driven by safety, reliability, efficiency, accessibility and environmental pressures.  As TRL’s new CEO, I am delighted to be joining a team that has an 80-year heritage and reputation in researching, developing and implementing innovative transport solutions with clients internationally.”

Wallis is to join TRL on 15^th July.