Moayedi to quit as chairman of Jarvis

Paris Moayedi is to step down as chairman of Jarvis, the rail maintenance contractor at the centre of the investigation into the Potter's Bar train crash.

Steven Norris, the Conservative candidate for the Mayor of London and the company's senior independent director, has been approached about replacing Mr Moayedi and may step into the chairman's role on an interim basis until a permanent successor is found.

The announcement of Mr Moayedi's retirement after nine years at the helm is expected later this month when Jarvis reports its half-year results. He is 65 and sources said his retirement had been expected for some time.

Mr Moayedi stepped up from chief executive to chairman in May this year after the death of Duncan McGowan - a move that was criticised on corporate governance grounds.

Since then, Jarvis has been hit by an unremitting stream of bad news culminating in the loss of its rail maintenance work and the derailment of a train leaving King's Cross after overnight work on the track by the firm.