The new body overseeing the expansion of the Midland Metro tram network has appointed Alejandro Moreno as director to lead the project.
First unveiled in June, the Midland Metro Alliance is a new team of partners and contractors assembled to deliver four separate trams extensions over the next decade.
It is a significant deviation away from standard practice in major infrastructure schemes whereby contractors are appointed on a project-by-project basis.
In this instance, the team will share the risks and rewards of delivering the four tram projects.
Mr Moreno is currently managing director for Scandinavia for Colas Rail, one of the partners of the Midland Metro Alliance, and was previously managing director for central Europe for Colas Rail.
Prior to this, he was general manager of Tranvia de Zaragoza in Spain, where he gained experience in delivering a tram network free from overhead power lines which will be a feature of the extension now being built from outside New Street station to Centenary Square.
Mr Moreno replaces interim director Iain Anderson of Colas Rail who oversaw the formation of the alliance and has now returned to Colas.
He said: "I am very excited to be leading the Metro Alliance. I look forward to utilising my experience to ensure the Midland Metro is at the forefront of the integrated transport system the West Midlands needs to enable its ambitious plans for economic regeneration."
The alliance is building the four new tram extensions on behalf of the new West Midlands Combined Authority.
It consists of the authority, which owns the Metro, rail construction specialists Colas Rail and its partners Colas, Barhale, Thomas Vale and Auctus Management Group.
The Midland Metro runs between New Street station and Wolverhampton city centre, serving locations such as the Jewellery Quarter, West Bromwich, Wednesbury and Bilston.
The quartet of new extensions are New Street station to Centenary Square in Broad Street via Town Hall, further outbound travel along Broad Street to Five Ways island and Edgbaston, Bull Street to the new HS2 station in Eastside and on to the Custard Factory and a city centre extension in Wolverhampton.
A separate business case is also being prepared to extend the Metro from Wednesbury to Brierley Hill.
