Tom Riordan is set to become the new chief executive of Leeds City Council.

A committee of senior councillors – representing the five political groups across Leeds – unanimously agreed to recommend Mr Riordan for the job this/yesterday afternoon.

The recommendation will now be taken to a meeting of the full council next Wednesday (April 21) for it to formally approve the appointment.

Mr Riordan will join the authority – England’s second biggest metropolitan council - in the autumn. He will take over from Paul Rogerson who is retiring later this year.

Tom is currently the chief executive of the regional development agency Yorkshire Forward where he has been for over a decade.

While there, and in 2008, he was asked by the Chancellor to lead a team of experts to co-ordinate how the region should respond to potential job losses in the financial services sector and work out a way of securing the future of highly skilled employment in the industry.

Mr Riordan was born in Northallerton and was educated at the town’s college. He graduated with a modern history honours degree from Trinity College Oxford in 1989 and immediately joined the civil service's ‘fast stream management scheme’ with the Department of the Environment in London. From there, he progressed quickly through a variety of jobs, specialising in environmental policy and representing the UK in United Nations negotiations on climate change and endangered species.

Away from work, Tom is married to Louise and with his two children they live in North Yorkshire. He lists his passions as ‘amateur football’ and ‘being a Middlesbrough supporter’.

Councillor Andrew Carter, joint leader said:

“Our current chief executive has been at the helm for a number of years now and under his leadership this council has flourished.

“Despite the challenges ahead, I am confident Tom will make his own mark on the authority and deliver the ambitions we aspire to.

“His enthusiasm and passion for Leeds came across clearly at interview.”

Councillor Richard Brett, joint leader said:

“Tom Riordan will bring a wealth of experience to the job at Leeds from his role at Yorkshire Forward.

“I’m really looking forward to working with him and I have no doubt that he will make a positive contribution to the organisation.”

Leeds City Council’s current chief executive, Paul Rogerson, will retire later this year, but not before Mr Riordan has taken up his post.

Over the last ten years, Paul Rogerson has worked with five council leaders from three political parties and headed up one of the north’s largest employers, with more than 32,000 staff and a budget of over £2 billion.

He has overseen a council providing a wide range of services for a diverse population of over 760,000 people. Over recent years, Paul has also worked hard to promote a city-region approach to economic planning.

In 2007, Paul was awarded a CBE for his services to local government.