Sadiq Khan hires first full-time cycling commissioner

Will Norman will become walking and cycling commissioner in February

London mayor Sadiq Khan has appointed the capital's first full-time commissioner for walking and cycling.

Will Norman starts work in February on a salary of £98,000. He is currently Nike's global partnerships director.

Mr Norman will help the mayor get more Londoners active "by making cycling and walking safer and easier".

The appointment follows the mayor's announcement he would invest £770m on infrastructure and promotion of cycling over the next six years.

City Hall said the appointment was made after "a rigorous and competitive selection process" in which it received 152 applications.

Former mayor Boris Johnson also had a cycling commissioner, but the role was part-time.

London is spending £770m to promote cycling and improve the infrastructure over the next six years

Before joining Nike in 2013, Mr Norman set up a social research consultancy and was also director of research at The Young Foundation, where he was responsible for delivering European programmes and established a youth leadership organisation.

Mr Khan, said: "I'm determined to make walking and cycling safer and easier for all Londoners, which is why I'm providing more investment than ever before, and appointing a commissioner to focus full-time on this vital area of work.

"Will Norman brings to this new role an impressive track record in delivering major international projects to get more people active.

"As the first ever full-time commissioner, he will be able to make a substantial difference getting Londoners of all ages and backgrounds walking and cycling more - improving our city for everyone."