Search Begins for £170k Chief Executive at Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority

A recruitment drive has been launched to find a new chief executive for the Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority, offering a salary of up to £170,000 to lead the region's economic and strategic future.

A search has officially been launched for a high-powered chief executive to head up the Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority (HEYCA). The role offers a salary of between £150,000 and £170,000 and could attract top civil society leaders to consider living and working in the region.

The impressive job advert, which has gone live on professional networking platform LinkedIn, marks one of the most significant public leadership appointments in Northern England as local devolution takes yet another step forward. The successful candidate will take on the twin titles of Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service.

Whoever lands the role will act as the principal strategic adviser to Reform UK’s Mayor Luke Campbell and the authority’s executive board. In addition the chief exec must represent the region and its ambitious authority on the national and international stage.

The new figurehead will be tasked with building the strategic body from the ground up and driving multi-million pound regional investment portfolios. It is a huge role with HEYCA recently announcing key milestones across housing, skills and transport in Hull and East Yorkshire.

Leaders behind the recruitment drive stress that this is ‘more than leading an established organisation,’ hailing it as a ‘rare opportunity to shape and build’ an authority that will dictate the economic direction of the area for generations to come.

A key focus for the new chief executive will be developing strong relationships with national government and ensuring Hull and East Yorkshire is influential within the devolution agenda.‘Maintaining the highest standards of governance, financial stewardship, transparency and accountability’ are also focus areas listed in the job description.

Crucially, recruitment bosses are casting a wide net for the role, confirming that applicants do not need to come from a traditional local government background or have spent their careers working in town halls.

The Mayor was elected as the first for Hull and East Yorkshire in a May 2025 election – receiving 48,491 votes, ahead of Liberal Democrat Mike Ross, who came second with 37,510 votes.

After his election Mayor Campbell said he was ‘humbled’ by the support of voters and vowed to earn the ‘trust and respect’ of his critics. He said:

I’m not politically experienced but I think that is one of my strengths. I will work my socks off and put my heart into this role.

As part of the recruitment drive for the chief exec, applications are being encouraged from top leaders across the private, public, and regulated sectors – including candidates with expertise in offshore energy, commercial property development, technology, transport infrastructure, and logistics. This reflects the Humber region’s nationally critical role in energy and infrastructure and ongoing campaigning around Rough gas storage and the Humber Hydrogen project.

According to the job listing, HEYCA is positioning itself as a central driver for the region’s key economic strengths, spotlighting world-leading renewable energy, major shipping ports, advanced manufacturing, digital innovation, and a growing visitor economy.

The role demands a proven track record of managing massive investment portfolios

The job spec sets out high expectations for candidates, demanding a proven track record of managing massive investment portfolios, high-profile transformation projects, and complex stakeholder relationships across sector boundaries.

Applicants must demonstrate exceptional commercial acumen, political awareness, and the resilience needed to represent Hull and East Yorkshire on regional, national, and international stages.

The advert states:

We are interested in leaders who have operated successfully within complex, high-profile environments and who understand how to translate strategy into successful delivery.

Your career does not need to have followed a traditional local government pathway. You may currently be a Chief Executive, Managing Director, Chief Operating Officer, Executive Director or senior leader operating within the public, private or regulated sectors… What matters most is the leadership, experience and perspective you bring.

The advertisement makes clear that success will not be measured by strategy documents alone, but by ‘investment secured, infrastructure delivered, economic growth accelerated, and new opportunities created for residents.’

The closing date for applications is November 2nd, with interviews taking place a week later. The selection process involves a structured assessment and stakeholder engagement, presentations.

HEYCA was formed following the landmark regional devolution deal, granting local leaders unprecedented control over key decisions, funding streams, and long-term development strategies previously dictated by Westminster.

The combined authority has been handed wide-ranging responsibilities to spearhead economic expansion, upgrade regional transport links, boost skills training, and accelerate major regeneration projects across both Hull and the East Riding.

HEYCA’s new chief executive will replace the interim Chief Executive Alan Menzies. He is understood to be continuing in the temporary role until a full-time successor is found. Alan Menzies has previously spent many years at East Riding Council and held senior leadership positions including Executive Director of Planning and Economic Regeneration, Deputy Chief Executive, and later serving as the council’s interim Chief Executive.