Tom Riordan lands MHCLG top job

Northern growth envoy and former council chief exec set to become communities department perm sec Tom Riordan has been named as the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government's next permanent secretary. Currently serving as the government's 'northern growth envoy', Riordan was previously second perm sec at the Department of Health and Social Care. Before that he was chief executive of Leeds City Council from 2010 to 2024. He succeeds Dame Sarah Healey who left MHCLG to become perm sec at the Department for Work and Pensions last month. Will Garton has served as interim perm sec since her departure. Riordan will be the first former council chief executive at the helm of the communities department since the late Bob Kerslake when he takes up post later this month. 'Perfect appointment at a critical time' Secretary of state for housing, communities and local government Angela Rayner said Riordan had exactly the right skills to be the top official at MHCLG as the department looks to deliver on new PM Andy Burnham's priorities. 'Few people have done more than Tom Riordan to champion devolution, good growth and strong local leadership – which makes him the perfect appointment at a critical time,' she said. 'I'm delighted he's joining MHCLG and look forward to working with him as we get on with building the homes we need, improving local places and giving communities more control over their future.' Rayner also thanked Healey for her leadership of the department and Garton for his support. Cabinet secretary Dame Antonia Romeo, who appointed Riordan to his new role with Burnham's approval, agreed the new perm sec would be 'ideally suited' to lead MHCLG's 'crucial policy agenda'. Riordan said: 'It's a privilege to be taking up such an important job to help ensure the whole country benefits from more affordable and safe homes, well run public services and strong regional growth. 'This feels like the right job at the right time as the government devolves power, given how much I've valued working in local and regional government, and applying that learning to improving national policy.' Like other permanent secretaries, Riordan's appointment is for a fixed five-year term. It was made following an internal appointment exercise chaired by first civil service commissioner Baroness Gisela Stuart. Riordan was appointed to his 'northern growth' role last October by then-chancellor Rachel Reeves, then-communities secretary Steve Reed and transport secretary Heidi Alexander. The three-days-a-week posting, based at the Darlington Economic Campus, tasked him with working across government departments, with mayors and other external partners to co-develop a plan to support growth and investment across the north. Riordan will start work at MHCLG on 21 September. Read the most recent articles written by Jim Dunton - UK poaches Canada's chief statistician Share this page