An experienced leader with a career of more than 20 years in Local Government has been appointed as the Chief Executive of the Tees Valley Combined Authority.
Tom Bryant – who has held the position of Interim Chief Executive since March and was previously TVCA Director of Infrastructure – was confirmed to the role on a permanent basis on Friday.
The 44-year-old was approved to take on the new role by the Combined Authority’s Cabinet Members.
His appointment comes as part of a revised senior management structure for TVCA Group, which has seen the removal of the Group Chief Executive role and creation of separate leadership for TVCA and the South Tees Development Corporation (STDC).
He will continue to receive an annual salary of £160,000, as he did in his interim role.
Mr Bryant’s appointment was carried out through a multi-stage external recruitment process involving an extensive range of stakeholders and a national recruitment search overseen by recruitment agency Penna.
This process included representatives from bodies including TVCA’s Cabinet, Overview and Scrutiny Committee, and Audit and Governance Committee, as well as the Tees Valley Business Board, the region’s constituent Tees Valley Local Authorities, South Tees Development Corporation, Hartlepool Development Corporation and Teesside International Airport.
It also included representatives from the shadow Independent Advisory Board, whose role is to support and challenge TVCA on implementing an Organisational Improvement Plan, following receipt of the Best Value Notice.
Mr Bryant was Director of Infrastructure at the TVCA overseeing transport, digital and investment development. He joined the organisation in 2019 as Head of Transport – leading the planning and delivery of a multi-hundred-million-pound programme in our region.
He came to the authority with more than a decade of experience at North Yorkshire County Council, which included time leading major projects and teams.
Mr Bryant said: “It’s an honour and a privilege to be appointed Chief Executive. Our organisation has been a real engine for change during my time here – and I’m determined that continues.
“I’m also fully committed to ensuring that we continue to listen and improve in response to our Best Value Notice. We want to work more closely together with all our stakeholders and partner organisations to get better and, ultimately, achieve and deliver the best we possibly can for the people of the Tees Valley.
“We have vital projects running now – and more crucial work coming down the line in the next few years as devolution deepens. I want to see us leading that charge and I’m committed to leading our talented staff on this journey.”
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen added: “We’ve some absolutely vital projects coming in the next few years – from Net Zero Teesside, making sure we deliver our brilliant £1billion transport programme, and making the right skills and opportunities available for our young people to stay here and go far.
“Tom is the right person to have in place to deliver the improvements needed and drive our organisation forward. We’ve had a very rigorous process – with input and involvement from across the political spectrum, and from organisations and people from all parts of our region. Again, I’d like to thank everyone who took part and worked together with us.
“I’m looking forward to working even more closely with Tom in his permanent position to ensure we deliver our vision and bring even more progress to Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool.”
During the meeting, former TVCA Head of Marketing and Communications Craig Peacock was also appointed to the new role of Director of Inward Investment and Marketing.
His appointment was subject to a similar external multi-stage recruitment process involving key stakeholders.
Image credit: Tees Valley Combined Authority
