Ben Still announced as West Yorkshire Combined Authority's new Managing Director.

11 January 2018

Ben Still has today been announced as West Yorkshire Combined Authority's new Managing Director.

Mr Still is joining West Yorkshire Combined Authority from Sheffield City Region, where he led the recent mayoral devolution deal negotiations. He has worked with the Local Authority Leaders and Local Enterprise Partnership there since 2011, overseeing the creation of the Combined Authority, securing their economic growth deal and infrastructure funds.

This work built on a career in both the private and public sectors, including a decade in the civil service working for Department for Transport, heading the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, and working in private practice at consultants Steer Davies Gleave in Leeds and Arup in London.

Announcing the appointment, West Yorkshire Combined Authority Chair Cllr Peter Box said: "Following the recent, open recruitment and selection process, I am pleased to confirm that Ben Still has been offered and has accepted the Managing Director post.

With the chance to secure a transformational extension to Leeds City Region devolution deal still very much up for grabs, our 10-year, £1bn programme of Growth Deal Transport Fund schemes getting underway and the results of our joined up working in West Yorkshire such as the recent opening of the Broadway Centre in Bradford, this is an exciting time to be joining the Combined Authority.

I look forward to working with Ben over the coming years to turn West Yorkshire Combined Authority's considerable ambitions into realities."

Ben Still said: "I have enjoyed working with a wide range of colleagues in a number of roles in Sheffield City Region and now look forward to bringing that experience to West Yorkshire Combined Authority. This is an important time for West Yorkshire, Leeds City Region and the Combined Authority and I am keen to hit the ground running and help ensure we seize the opportunities available to us."

Welcoming the news, LEP Chair Roger Marsh OBE said: "Having worked with Ben on a number of occasions over the years on joint activities, including recently at MIPIM UK 2015, I know that he brings with him a deep understanding of the City Region's diverse agenda and experience of working in partnership with both the public and private sector.

Having already delivered significant impact with modest resources, the LEP is poised to deliver extraordinary economic growth across the Leeds City Region, with our civic partners in the Combined Authority. I am confident Ben's appointment will help us deliver our shared vision for transformational economic growth both further and faster for the benefit of our businesses and residents."