Tom Riordan, the Department of Health and Social Care’s second permanent secretary, has been appointed as the government’s envoy for the northern growth corridor.
Riordan, who joined DHSC a year ago, has been appointed by the chancellor, transport secretary and communities secretary to the new position. He will work three days a week for an initial 15 months in the role and will be based at the Darlington Economic Campus. Riordan will continue to work for two days a week as second perm sec at DHSC until February 2026.
In the role, Riordan will work across government departments, with mayors and other external partners to co-develop a plan to support growth and investment across the north.
Treasury second permanent secretary Beth Russell said she is “delighted” at the appointment of Riordan to the role, which she described as “a key part of the government’s overall growth agenda”, which “mirrors the approach the government is taking to the Oxford-Cambridge growth corridor”.
He will work closely with Russell and other senior officials in departments including the Treasury, DfT, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Department for Business and Trade and Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
Riordan, who was also recently named as a non-executive director at the National Wealth Fund, said: “This is such an exciting opportunity to work with ministers, mayors, senior civil servants, business and other leaders to design and deliver a new plan for the north - it’s a real honour. So much of my career has been about championing the north, and trying to unlock the undoubted talent of its people and the great potential of its places.”