{{short description|British civil servant}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Use British English|date=July 2024}} thumb|right|260px|Riordan in 2019 '''Thomas Messenger Riordan''' CBE is an English civil servant. He was Chief Executive of Leeds City Council from August 2010 until September 2024,<ref name="lcc-biography">{{cite web |title=Tom's biography |url=https://www.leeds.gov.uk/your-council/councillors-and-democracy/corporate-leadership-team/toms-biography |publisher=Leeds City Council |access-date=30 March 2021}}</ref> and spent three months working part-time for the UK government from May 2020 leading the Contain strand within COVID-19 NHS Test and Trace programme, setting out the framework for managing local COVID-19 outbreaks.<ref name="gov.uk">{{cite web |title=Government expands expert team to rapidly roll out coronavirus test and trace programme |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-expands-expert-team-to-rapidly-roll-out-coronavirus-test-and-trace-programme |website=GOV.UK |publisher=Department of Health and Social Care |language=en |date=12 May 2020}}</ref><ref name="beecham">{{cite news |last1=Beecham |first1=Richard |title=Leeds Council chief to lead on government contact tracing work |url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/politics/leeds-council-chief-lead-government-contact-tracing-work-2851809 |access-date=30 March 2021 |work=Yorkshire Evening Post |date=13 May 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
==Early life and education== Riordan was born and educated in Northallerton, North Yorkshire.<ref name="localgov">{{cite web |last1=Burton |first1=Michael |title=How local government changed my life |url=https://www.localgov.co.uk/How-local-government-changed-my-life/24542 |website=LocalGov.co.uk |access-date=30 March 2021 |language=en |date=23 September 2010}}</ref> He graduated in Modern History from Trinity College, Oxford in 1989. He gained an MBA at Imperial College in 1997.<ref name="centreforcities">{{cite web|url=https://www.centreforcities.org/about/person/tom-riordan/|title=Tom Riordan|website=Centre for Cities}}</ref> Due to his parents' mental health problems, Riordan spent periods in care before the age of four, thereafter returning home.<ref name="localgov" />
== Career ==
Riordan joined the UK civil service 'fast stream' graduate intake in 1990. He then specialised in environmental policy and represented the UK in international negotiations on climate change and endangered species. Riordan moved to Leeds in 1997 and helped set up Yorkshire Forward, the regional development agency for Yorkshire and Humber, becoming its chief executive in 2006,<ref name="localgov"/> supporting 10,000 businesses during the recession, completing award-winning regeneration developments and pioneering low carbon initiatives.<ref name="centreforcities"/>
Riordan was appointed Chief Executive of Leeds City Council in August 2010,<ref name="lcc-biography"/> and completed a handover period with outgoing chief Paul Rogerson.{{citation needed|date=October 2025}}
In 2021 Riordan was shortlisted alongside Mark Britnell for the role of NHS Chief Executive, which was awarded to Amanda Pritchard.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Discombe |first1=Matt |title=Amanda Pritchard appointed as NHS England chief executive |url=https://www.hsj.co.uk/leadership/amanda-pritchard-appointed-as-nhs-england-chief-executive/7030602.article |website=Health Service Journal |access-date=23 February 2025 |date=28 July 2021}}</ref>
In September 2024, Riordan announced he was leaving his role at Leeds City Council after 14 years to take up a new position at the Department of Health and Social Care as Second Permanent Secretary.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Leeds City Council chief executive Tom Riordan confirms leaving plans |url=https://news.leeds.gov.uk/news/leeds-city-council-chief-executive-tom-riordan-confirms-leaving-plans |access-date=2024-09-10 |website=Leeds City Council News |language=english}}</ref>
=== Coronavirus ===
In May 2020 Riordan agreed to spend three months, part-time, leading the UK government COVID-19 tracing system.<ref name="gov.uk"/><ref name="beecham"/>
==Personal life== Riordan is married and has two children. He is a keen footballer and Middlesbrough F.C. supporter.<ref name="centreforcities"/> He has experience of mental health issues in his wider family.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/my-mum-has-bipolar-my-dad-was-recovering-alcoholic-leeds-city-council-chief-exec-tom-riordan-why-we-need-open-about-mental-illness-1789782|title='My mum has bipolar. My dad was a recovering alcoholic.' – Leeds City Council chief exec Tom Riordan on why we need to open up about mental illness |access-date=30 March 2021 |work=Yorkshire Evening Post |date=10 October 2016}}</ref> He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2020 New Year Honours for services to local government.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=62866|supp=y|page=N10|date=28 December 2019}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Riordan, Tom}} Category:Living people Category:Alumni of Imperial College London Category:Alumni of Trinity College, Oxford Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Category:COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom Category:Local government in Leeds Category:Local government officers in England Category:People from Northallerton Category:Year of birth missing (living people)