FTA chief executive Theo de Pencier is to join transport watchdog Passenger Focus, the organisation that will be scrutinising the performance of Highways England, which goes live next month.

De Pencier will begin a four-year term at the organisation, which will be renamed Transport Focus, on 1 May.

He will step down from his role at the FTA at the end of April, with current finance and IT director David Wells taking over the reins at the association.

His appointment to the board of Passenger Focus follows that of former RHA chief executive Geoff Dunning, who joined as an advisor to its board in October.

Transport Focus will scrutinise the performance of the transformed Highways Agency, which is to be renamed as Highways England on 1 April.

“I am really looking forward to joining the board of an organisation that I have admired for many years. I hope that Transport Focus will be able to champion the views of users of the strategic road network with the same success that they have for passengers using the rail and bus networks,” said de Pencier.

Transport minister John Hayes said: “I am confident Theo de Pencier’s appointment will be an excellent addition to the board of Transport Focus, especially for its new role in protecting the interests of the strategic road user.”