People: York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority; Hill Dickinson; and more

The first chief executive of York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority has been appointed.

James Farrar, currently interim head of paid service and director of economy at the Combined Authority, is confirmed in the new post.

Prior to the formation of the Combined Authority in January this year, he was chief operating officer of York & North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership and played a leading role in the development and implementation of the region’s historic devolution deal.

The deal enables powers and funding to be moved to the region, with delivery led by an elected Mayor and the new Combined Authority.

The Combined Authority will deliver £112m of investment in 2024/25.

This includes a £67m local transport fund, £12.7m for brownfield housing, £10m of green economy investment, £2.9m for skills provision – including the implementation of a devolved adult education budget – and the annual £18m Mayoral Investment Fund, which will be used for mayoral priorities.

David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said: “James’ passion, commitment and understanding of the region stood out in interview and I look forward to building on our already strong relationship.

“This is a key appointment for the Combined Authority and James will lead the Senior Leadership Team, providing the vision and drive to ensure we build a Combined Authority that is trusted and delivers across the region.

“A key first job for James will be to complete the Senior Leadership Team and set out the plans to deliver the ambitions of myself and the wider Combined Authority.

“We secured a great devolution deal and need to ensure we have the team and resources in place to make a real difference to our communities across the region.”

Farrar said: “Having led the development and negotiation of the devolution deal, I am proud to now have the opportunity to work alongside the Mayor to turn this into reality and make a real difference to the communities across York and North Yorkshire.

“Success will see all parts of York and North Yorkshire benefit and to achieve that we will need to work locally across the whole area.

“I am committed to ensuring partnership is embedded in our operating model. Born and raised in the region, I am incredibly passionate about the area and have a deep understanding of the opportunities within York and North Yorkshire.”

A start date for the chief executive is to be determined. A recruitment process will take place to fill Farrar’s current position of director of economy.

News of the chief executive follows the appointment of Mike Russell as the Combined Authority’s director of resources.

Russell, who starts on 22 July, previously worked in senior roles at Tees Valley Combined Authority and at director level within the further education sector.

He said: “As I step into my new role at the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, I am thrilled to be part of an organisation that is driving long-term positive change across the region.

“I look forward to joining the team, contributing to the authority’s ambitious vision, and playing my part in delivering a meaningful impact on the lives of residents.”

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Commercial law firm, Hill Dickinson, has promoted nine legal directors to partner across a variety of practice areas in its business services and health business groups.

The new partners span the firm’s Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool offices, with the business services group making three legal directors partner, and the healthcare group promoting six to partner level.

In the past two years the firm has progressed 22 colleagues to partner through its internal promotion processes across all three of its business groups and a broad range of its locations.

The full list of promotions for 2024 is:

• Katie Austin – Private Client, Liverpool
• Joe Orme-Paul – Employment & Education, Liverpool
• Tim Unwin – Real Estate, Liverpool
• Ruth Griffiths – Health Primary Care, Leeds
• Joanna Crichton – Healthcare & Public Law, Liverpool
• Rebecca Sharrock – Healthcare & Public Law, Manchester
• Sion Davies – Healthcare & Public Law, Manchester
• Richard Parker – Health Commercial, Manchester
• Rizvan Rasul – Costs Health, Liverpool (promoted to partner equivalent)

Craig Scott, CEO, said: “Seeing our talented colleagues develop their careers and ascending through the legal ranks here at Hill Dickinson is one of the most rewarding aspects of my role and these promotions reflect tremendous effort and dedication on their part over many years.

“To reach the status of partner is a fantastic achievement. This year we have seen impressive profitable growth in all areas of our business and these latest promotions are further evidence that we are committed, as a firm, to investing in the development of our people.

“They will be our future leaders, driving our continued success for years to come.”

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John Ogden

Global real estate advisor, CBRE, has made strategic changes to its Northern leadership team.

John Ogden is now responsible for all UK Regional Markets, while Joe Rigby has been promoted to managing director of the North, overseeing CBRE’s Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool offices.

Ogden will continue to have an active role in overseeing the Northern region but will also take on greater responsibility across CBRE’s wider regional UK business, with overall responsibility for Scotland, the North, and the Midlands & South, and all the sectors and service lines in these locations.

Rigby, who joined CBRE in 2014, has held several leadership roles within the company including head of occupiers services for the North in 2019, before a promotion to head of office agency for the North in 2022.

He will now transition to managing director of the North, supporting Ogden, while remaining focused on client solutions in the region.

Joe Rigby

This follows Colin Thomasson’s recent appointment as head of UK investment properties.

Ogden said: “Joe is regarded as a market leader by clients, as well as the wider industry across the North, so he is well-placed to step up and drive the growth of our Northern business going forward.

“Simultaneously, it’s more important than ever that we are delivering a cohesive and integrated offering to our clients, across all our service lines and sectors.

“I look forward to continuing to work with Joe, as well as with all the teams across CBRE’s wider regional business, to deliver best-in-class, holistic solutions for our clients.”