Bowker joined BW’s board in August 2004. BW says he brings with him huge experience and knowledge of transport and infrastructure and is group chief executive of National Express Group Plc and the former chairman and chief executive of the Strategic Rail Authority.

He also has a deep interest in countryside and heritage issues and is a board member of the Countryside Alliance, a trustee of the Settle-Carlisle Railway Trust and the deputy president of the Heritage Railway Association.

BB understands the appointment of Mr Bowker may not be viewed in quite such glowing terms by some sectors of the industry, which found him a very strong ally of former BW chairman George Greener and a man apparently from the same uncompromising mould.

This is the second time BW has had the chance to correct recent ‘anomalies’ and present itself as an outward facing transparent organisation eager to do business with the rest of the industry.

The departure of James Froomberg (BB NewsUpdate 30 June 2008) gave BW the opportunity to show it was sincere in its much-stated desire for transparency in its dealings with the rest of the industry and separate British Waterways Marinas Ltd (BWML) and BW.

BW chose, however, not the obvious choice and instead appointed Mr Froomberg’s replacement Philip Ridal as finance director of BW and chairman of BWML. So the same concerns the industry had with Mr Froomberg remain with his successor, Philip Ridal.

Those concerns are that by having one man with board level jobs for both BW and BWML, BW may be flouting UK competition law and that Mr Ridal will face conflicts of interest between his two positions.