Former Aecom executive Richard Robinson joined last September 

Richard Robinson

Management churn at HS2 is set to continue with another senior boss announcing their departure – less than a year after arriving at the government-owned firm.

Richard Robinson, chief operating officer at HS2, has been placed on restricted duties ahead of his departure from the rail delivery body next month, Ðǿմ«Ã½ understands.

Robinson (pictured) was Aecom’s chief executive for civil engineering across Europe, the Middle East, India and Africa before becoming second-in-command at HS2 last September.

Robinson, who leaves for a job in the private sector, will initially be replaced by an interim chief operating officer, it is understood.

HS2 lost its phase 1 managing director June, while its phase 2 boss left last November after less than a year in the role.

The firm has also had three chairmen in little over a year, after Sir David Higgins stepped down at the end of July 2018 and Terry Morgan left in December – to be replaced by Allan Cook.

Mark Thurston, who has been the chief executive of HS2 since 2017, said: “We can confirm that chief operating officer Richard Robinson has decided to leave HS2 Ltd to take up a new senior role in the private sector. We wish him every success in his new position.â€