Leeds City Council chief to leave role

Tom Riordan

Leeds City Council's chief executive will leave the role at the end of the year.

Tom Riordan, who has been the council boss since 2010, said it was "time to give someone else the chance to do one of the best jobs in the country".

During his tenure, he oversaw Channel 4 and the Bank of England opening offices in the city, as well as bringing the first stage of the Tour De France to Leeds in 2014.

A recruitment process to find his successor will begin shortly.

Mr Riordan said concluding it was time to leave had been "the most difficult decision".

“Having been in care myself, and lived with mental health issues in my family, I’ve been determined to build a culture that judges people on what they do and treats them with respect and kindness - where everyone feels valued for who they are and what they bring to the team.

“While we have many challenges, in common with all councils, Leeds is in as good a place as it can be to weather them."

The council's 2024-25 budget included provision for £63.9million worth of savings in order to balance the local authority's books.

Leeds City Council leader councillor James Lewis described Mr Riordan as an "outstanding chief executive and public servant".

He said: “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."

He added: "I’d like to take this chance to thank him for his considerable contribution and dedication to the council and city.”