Leeds City Council’s Chief Executive Tom Riordan has revealed his intention to leave his role at the end of the year to explore new opportunities.
After 14 years at the helm of the second-biggest local authority in the country, Tom has decided the time is right to try fresh challenges.
As one of the longest-standing UK local government chiefs, he has made a big impact in Leeds, working alongside council leaders and other senior politicians towards achieving their best city and best council ambitions. He was awarded the CBE for services to local government in the 2020 new year’s honours.
Tom said: “After 14 of the happiest years I’ve decided that the time is right to move on. I have genuinely loved being Chief Executive of Leeds City Council, working with the best people in the best city.
“We’ve established a collaborative Team Leeds culture that delivers, working together with our partners to ensure we have a city that’s regenerating and growing sustainably.
“A generation of children are growing up supported by outstanding-rated services, vulnerable people are supported wherever possible and older people are helped to live independent and fulfilling lives, in a city admired for what it gets done and the way it works.
“This has been the most difficult decision, but the time’s right to give someone else a chance to do one of the best jobs in the country.”
Leeds City Council Leader Councillor James Lewis said: “Tom is an outstanding chief executive and public servant who has worked tirelessly alongside senior politicians, officers and partners over many years with an unwavering determination to achieve the best for Leeds.
“We’ve faced a lot of challenges, not least on the financial front. His contribution has been invaluable in helping us deliver council services that are highly rated, while building stronger communities where people are supported towards better lives and life outcomes.
“In his time with us we’ve also attracted major investment, high-profile events and made great progress on building social housing and infrastructure to under-pin communities for the future.
“Tom has played a key part in helping us to get to where we are today and has built a strong team of senior officers to continue that work. I’d like to take this chance to thank him for his considerable contribution and dedication to the council and city.”
Since moving to Leeds City Council in 2010 Tom has been passionate about working alongside the political leadership to broaden the council’s impact across the city and the region while simultaneously supporting vulnerable people and frontline services.
In this time the council has been involved in attracting Channel 4, Burberry, the Bank of England and the UK Infrastructure Bank to the city, along with international events like the Grand Départ of the Tour de France. It has built the first direct Arena, greatly expanded the city centre across the South Bank and worked to facilitate the openings of the Trinity Leeds and Victoria Gate shopping centres.
A recruitment process will begin shortly to find Tom’s successor.
