The Department of Health and Social Care has appointed a longstanding council chief who worked on NHS Test and Trace as its second permanent secretary.
Tom Riordan, who has led Leeds City Council since 2010, will step into the role on 23 September.
He was seconded to NHS Test and Trace for two months in the early Covid pandemic.
DHSC perm sec Sir Chris Wormald said Riordan would bring a “fantastic record in health reform, public service and local government” to the department.
Riordan acted as the national lead on tracing for NHS Test & Trace from May to July 2020. In an interview with the Local Government Chronicle in 2020, Riordan said the challenge he faced during the secondment was “trying to persuade a number of Whitehall departments as well as the sector itself and directors of public health” that working together on the NHS Test & Trace system “was the right thing to do”.
He said persuading national government to share “the data, the money, the powers” to enable local authorities to track Covid had been the “three areas that were most challenging”. “But we’ve got there and I’m really pleased about that… it was a real team effort,” he said.
While at Leeds City Council, Riordan oversaw reforms to integrate health and social care, prioritising preventative health measures and tackling health disparities to improve public health and protect the health system, DHSC said in its announcement. He also focused on health improvement as a key driver of growth.
His appointment therefore “signals the government’s focus on health reform and the integration of health, social care and prevention”, DHSC said.
Riordan began his career in the Department for Environment, and his experience also includes five years as chief executive of Yorkshire Forward, the now-defunct regional development agency for the Yorkshire and the Humber region.
He said he was "really excited" to be joining DHSC and returning to the civil service.
"There are few bigger challenges than health and social care, and not many bigger opportunities to make a positive difference to people. I’ll miss my brilliant colleagues and partners in Leeds, and in the local government family, and it’ll be great to be working in the city now as a stakeholder. I can’t wait to get started," he added.
Riordan will replace Shona Dunn, who stepped down in June before becoming chief executive at St John Ambulance this month.
DHSC first advertised for Dunn's successor in May, but reopened recruitment for the second perm sec role in August.
Health secretary Wes Streeting, said: "I am delighted to be welcoming Tom to this role. He is a proven public service reformer with extensive experience in health and social care system transformation and preventative healthcare.
"His experience will be invaluable as we deliver the mission of this government to build an NHS and social care system fit for the future."
The appointment was approved by the prime minister and follows an open recruitment competition overseen by the Civil Service Commission.