Leeds chief executive awarded CBE in New Year’s Honours

The chief executive of Leeds City Council Tom Riordan has been awarded a CBE for services to local government in the 2020 New Year’s Honours.

Mr Riordan joined Leeds City Council as chief executive in 2010.

Under his stewardship, the local authority won the MJ’s Council of the Year award in 2016 and was named Digital Council of the Year in the 2019 Digital Leaders 100 awards, along with receiving a number of other awards.

As well as his part in attracting Channel 4, he also played a leading role in bringing the Grand Départ of the Tour de France to Leeds.

There have also been major infrastructure developments with the council commissioning the building of the First Direct Arena and enabling the development of the Trinity Leeds and Victoria Gate shopping and leisure complexes.

The South Bank Leeds project will double the size and economic impact of the city centre as planning continues for linking in HS2 to a redesigned rail station and work is well under way with local universities and Leeds Teaching Hospitals on the Innovation District.

He is also the lead council chief executive on the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership, helping to deliver a programme of community focused integration across the region. He chairs the Chief Executive’s Group of Core Cities and the Leeds City Region Chief Executive Group.

In addition, he also sits on the board for the Centre for Cities and is the lead for linking communications between the government and local authorities on Brexit preparations for the Yorkshire and the Humber region.

‘I’m really pleased and extremely humbled to receive this award,’ said Mr Riordan.

‘I feel strongly that it is for the council, the city, the amazing people and communities I work with and everyone who’s invested in doing the best we can for the people of Leeds. It’s a privilege to do this job for and with them. I am so grateful for all the help I’ve received throughout my career from my family, friends and colleagues.’

Photo Credit – Supplied by Leeds City Council