Mick Martin has been appointed as Network Rail’s new director of commercial property, in charge of its £4bn development drive

Martin, 46, will replace John Pike who is leaving to join HBOS as head of property at the end of October.

Martin, presently Network Rail’s transaction director, most recently worked as project director for Leeds Supertram and has a telecommunications background having previously worked at Racal Telecom and Jarvis Facilities.

Martin has been in charge of some of Network Rail’s biggest projects such as the planned redevelopment of Birmingham New Street.

Pike joined Network Rail in February 2004 with the remit of looking after surplus land after 12 years as head of corporate real estate at BT.