Leeds City Council is set to appoint Tom Riordan as the new chief executive of the city council, following a vote by councillors this afternoon.

Riordan will join the metropolitan council, which is England’s second biggest after Birmingham, from the regional development agency Yorkshire Forward, where he is currently chief executive. He will take over from Paul Rogerson, who is retiring in the autumn.

Last week, a committee of senior councillors – representing the five political groups across Leeds – unanimously agreed to recommend Riordan for the job.

Riordan has historically specialised in environmental policy and international climate change policy.

He was born in Northallerton and was educated at the college there. He graduated in modern history from Trinity College Oxford in 1989 and joined the civil service with the Department of the Environment in London.

Mr Riordan said: “This is a fantastic opportunity, I’m very excited and I’m looking forward to coming to Leeds to build on the good work of Paul Rogerson.

“Clearly, there are some significant issues being faced by local councils and the public sector in general, but I relish the challenges ahead.”

Leeds City Council’s current chief executive, Paul Rogerson, will retire later this year when Riordan takes up his post.

• Liverpool Vision appoints new chief exec
• BAM picked for Leeds council’s £55m arena
• MIDAS hires Angie Robinson as new chief exec
• Fox to be BAM Nuttall chief exec
• Huddersfield Waterfront Quarter underway