Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Breaking: Virgin Hyperloop One names former MTA head Jay Walder as CEO
As tech companies like Elon Musk’s Boring Company and Hyperloop Transportation Technologies race to roll out the first fully operational hyperloop systems, Virgin Hyperloop One is trying to cement its image as a transportation company first and foremost.
Today, Virgin Hyperloop One announced Jay Walder as its new CEO. Walder most recently served as the CEO of Motivate, but previously headed up of some of the world’s largest transportation systems, including the MTA in New York City and MTR in Hong Kong. Ahmed bin Sulayem, CEO of the massive port operator DP world, will become the new chairman of the board after Richard Branson stepped down last month.
These new appointments come right as Virgin Hyperloop One is ramping up its plans to implement a hyperloop between Pune and Mumbai in India–a 93-mile journey that hyperloop technology, reportedly, could shrink from four hours to 25 minutes. If the Indian government, which has already given initial go-ahead to Virgin Hyperloop One on the project, gives a final green light, the company will start construction on an 11-kilometer test loop of the route next year. (It’s already built a 500-meter test track in Las Vegas.)
Walder tells Fast Company that he sees his appointment as an opportunity to translate his experience working within governments on large transit projects to “the first really new and innovative transportation technology in over 100 years.” While he’s excited about the tech, he’s most drawn to the potential to move people (and cargo) more efficiently between cities. “That’s where my background comes in–we didn’t just move trains, we moved people,” he says.
https://www.fastcompany.com/90264850/virgin-hyperloop-one-names-former-mta-head-jay-walder-as-ceo
Today, Virgin Hyperloop One announced Jay Walder as its new CEO. Walder most recently served as the CEO of Motivate, but previously headed up of some of the world’s largest transportation systems, including the MTA in New York City and MTR in Hong Kong. Ahmed bin Sulayem, CEO of the massive port operator DP world, will become the new chairman of the board after Richard Branson stepped down last month.
These new appointments come right as Virgin Hyperloop One is ramping up its plans to implement a hyperloop between Pune and Mumbai in India–a 93-mile journey that hyperloop technology, reportedly, could shrink from four hours to 25 minutes. If the Indian government, which has already given initial go-ahead to Virgin Hyperloop One on the project, gives a final green light, the company will start construction on an 11-kilometer test loop of the route next year. (It’s already built a 500-meter test track in Las Vegas.)
Walder tells Fast Company that he sees his appointment as an opportunity to translate his experience working within governments on large transit projects to “the first really new and innovative transportation technology in over 100 years.” While he’s excited about the tech, he’s most drawn to the potential to move people (and cargo) more efficiently between cities. “That’s where my background comes in–we didn’t just move trains, we moved people,” he says.
https://www.fastcompany.com/90264850/virgin-hyperloop-one-names-former-mta-head-jay-walder-as-ceo
Jay is an old work acquaintance of mine; this tells me there's something serious about the project.