Our chair and our chief executive

Yorkshire Forward’s chair and chief executive are both senior figures who represent the region at national and parliamentary levels. They are highly experienced strategists, ultimately responsible for Yorkshire Forward’s performance.

Terry Hodgkinson, chair

Terry is accountable for Yorkshire Forward’s performance, reporting directly to senior government ministers. As well as being the key interface with our stakeholders, he also acts on behalf of all the UK’s regional development agencies on a number of national issues, including maintaining relationships with HM Treasury, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and the Trades Union Congress (TUC).

He is responsible for updating and promoting our Regional Economic Strategy, which has a direct influence on Yorkshire & Humber’s £87bn economy.

Terry is passionate about good design and architecture, and is a keen supporter of the arts and built environment. A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Building, as well as a Fellow of the Institute of Directors, he brings more than 30 years’ experience in property and building-related businesses to his post at Yorkshire Forward.

He is also chair of Magna Holdings Ltd, a property development and investment company where he is dedicated to restoring brownfield sites, redundant and historic buildings and conservation areas.

Terry is committed to professional and personal development. He believes that continuous learning is critical to success in our fast-changing world.

We also publish all expenses claimed by Terry.

Tom Riordan, chief executive

As Chief Executive, Tom has pioneered the concept of “Team Yorkshire & Humber” bringing together public and private sector partners from across the region to work together on a wide and varied range of issues.  Most recently these have included championing the region’s response to climate change, including a pioneering Carbon Capture & Storage Partnership, that would reduce UK carbon emissions by 10% and create 50,000 jobs.  In October 2008 Tom was asked by the Chancellor to lead a Task Force which would co-ordinate the region's response to potential job losses in the financial services sector and produce a long term strategy to secure the future of high skilled employment in the sector.

In addition to his demanding role as Chief Executive, Tom is also a trustee of The Trust for Education and Co-Chair of the Government’s national Ethnic Minority Business Task Force.  As one of Bradford University’s honorary graduands in July 2008, Tom became a Doctor of Letters.

He is married to Louise, has two children Joe and Amy and is a keen footballer and Middlesbrough supporter.

You can keep up with Tom by following him on twitter click here.

We also publish all expenses claimed by Tom.