John Robinson - a profile

John Robinson aims to get Railtrack back on track

John Robinson has stepped up to one of the most high-profile chairman positions in the UK - chairman of Railtrack.

I'm a regular rail user and I've had my frustrations like everyone else

John Robinson

Aged 60, he is already a widely experienced chairman. His experience in sectors heavily regulated by the government will be particularly pertinent to his new role.

He is currently chairman of the construction firm George Wimpey, the coal mining company RJB Mining and plastics packaging firm Low & Bonar.

But although a regular commuter and an engineer, he has no actual experience of working for the railways.

Time pressures

Mr Robinson has said that he will resign from two of his current chairmanships in order to work three days a week at Railtrack.

John Robinson will come under scrutiny from the public and the press

"Nobody need worry that this is not going to get my full effort," he said.

And the job of turning Railtrack around is widely recognised to need a whole lot of effort.

A succession of leading City names were rumoured to have shunned the post. They included Sir Malcolm Field, chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority and Sir John Parker, chairman of former British Gas company Lattice.

Hands on

John Robinson must be described as a non-executive director since he is to be working part time.

But Railtrack says that his role will really be more of an executive one, where he is involved in the day to day running of the company as well as decision making and forming strategy.

There are many varieties of chairmen, and many different ways to split the power between the chairman and the chief executive.

Traditionally, the chairman chairs the board, votes at board meeting, and legitimises the decisions of the chief executive. By steering clear of more routine business, it is possible to hold several chairmanships simultaneously.

But the role of the chairman often demands a greater level of participation with this reflected in generous salaries.

Mr Robinson will get a basic annual salary of £300,000 pounds but will not have share options.

City caution

The City gave the appointment a cautious welcome, with shares rising up to 3.3% higher on the news.

But analysts said that a new chairman - although a relief - is not enough to swing opinion in the firm just yet.

Nobody need worry that this is not going to get my full effort

John Robinson

It will take some concrete signs that the company is beginning to turn itself around before stock recommendations are changed.

Many analysts struggled to give much of a slant on the newcomer, showing that his performance under the critical public eye has yet to be tested.

But his frank comments on his lack of experience in the rail industry and the difficult nature of the job have been well received so far.

"I'm a regular rail user and I've had my frustrations like everyone else," he said, laying out his priority as the creation of a "reliable, safe railway system, where Railtrack keeps its promises."

Career history

John Robinson spent the bulk of his career at medical devices firm Smith & Nephew - the company which created elastoplast and Plaster of Paris bandages - before retiring last year.

He joined Smith & Nephew in 1979 as Managing Director of the company's Medical Division in Hull. He became responsible for the group's UK and European operations in 1985 and was then appointed chief executive in 1990.

He was chairman of the firm between 1997 and 2000 and is now the Chairman of the Smith & Nephew foundation.

A graduate in chemical engineering from Birmingham University, Mr Robinson began his career as a Technical Officer with chemicals giant ICI in 1962. He moved to the pharmaceutical firm Fisons in 1965 and then on to PA Management Consultants in 1970.

He is currently chairman of the CBI Technology and Innovation Committee, a fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, and a member of the Industrial Development Advisory Board.

Mr Robinson will join the Railtrack board on 4 June and start in his new role as chairman on 2 July.