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MEET THE TEAM

Mariana Pexton

Interim Chief Executive, Leeds City Council

Mariana has been the Interim Chief Executive at Leeds City Council since September 2024. She was previously Director of Strategy and Resources at the authority, leading a large directorate that included Finance, Human Resources, Digital, Legal and Governance, Shared Services, Strategy and Performance, Communications and Marketing, and crucially a service called Civic Enterprise Leeds that delivers many vital front-line services such as catering, cleaning, school crossing patrols, passenger transport and building repairs. Mariana also led the strategic developments for Leeds City Council, including the Best City Ambition, and played a key corporate role supporting councillors.

Mariana has previously been employed in senior in roles in Leeds in Strategy, Customer Services and Children’s Services. Prior to joining the council in 2000, Mariana enjoyed a career in leadership and management in the Civil Service and an Inspectorate. She studied Sports Studies in Newcastle as her first degree, has a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Leeds, and has completed a Doctorate in Business Administration at Leeds Beckett University, researching leadership and strategy in local government.

Angela Barnicle

Director City Development (Interim), Leeds City Council

Angela started her career at LCC, training to be a Chartered Surveyor.  She has worked extensively across the UK advising on large scale city development and transport schemes, organisational design and place positioning before rejoining LCC in 2017.    Angela now leads the City Development Directorate for Leeds City Council. Angela’s focus is on working with partners to enable and facilitate the inclusive growth of the city covering the economic, place and cultural portfolios.

The City Development Directorate covers the service areas of Planning, Highways and Transportation, Economy and Skills, Operations Active Leeds & Culture and Asset Management & Regeneration.

 

Fiona Bolam

Interim Chief Officer, Economy and Skills, Leeds City Council

Fiona is the Interim Chief Officer for Economy and Skills at Leeds City Council and is responsible for City’s economic strategy, the Leeds Inclusive Growth Strategy, Employment and Skills, Inward Investment and the visitor economy and Business Support.  Fiona joined Leeds City Council in 2018 after a career in the Civil Service, working in labour market and working age benefits policy and in large transformation and change programmes; she has worked in regional economic development and in university research consultancy. Fiona has a PhD in the social and political history of Bradford.

Mark Mills

Chief Officer, Asset Management and Regeneration, Leeds City Council

Mark’s career spans over twenty years in Local Government, delivering a wide range of regeneration and real estate projects.  Mark is passionate about place leadership and sustainable development and has been instrumental in the planning and delivery of many housing growth and economic development schemes which have delivered transformational change for the city, communities and residents.  Mark has also led the Council’s estate review programme, leveraging surplus assets to support regeneration and growth opportunities, whilst guiding and informing wider organisational design changes.

Mark now leads the Asset Management and Regeneration Service which is a multi-disciplinary service focusing on place based programmes across the city, with a strong emphasis on the delivery of mixed tenure housing in sustainable and well connected locations.  This includes the delivery of the Council’s own housing stock, as well as working extensively across the property sector to realise the opportunity to deliver in excess of 30,000 new homes across the city centre as well as across major development schemes such as East Leeds Extension.  There is also a strong focus on economic development and skills and knowledge growth with the Leeds Innovation Arc creating innovation opportunities around the key anchors of the Universities and proposed redevelopment of the Leeds General Infirmary supported by the delivery of enhanced public realm and connectivity knitting these areas to the wider city centre.

Belinda Eldridge

Head of Visitor Economy, Inward Investment and International Relations

Belinda is responsible for the city’s inward investment strategy and responding to investment enquiries.

Adam Brannen

Head of Regeneration

As Head of Regeneration for Leeds City Council Adam leads on place change across the city, with a multi-disciplinary team delivering major programmes of renewal and growth including the East Leeds Extension, South Bank, the Aire Valley Leeds Enterprise Zone, wider housing growth activities, neighbourhood regeneration and heritage-lead renewal schemes. With a background in town planning Adam has a strong track record in securing funding, working with communities and with the development industry to deliver large area regeneration initiatives.

Tariq Sadiq

Inward Investment Manager

Tariq manages the city’s inward investment activity and is responsible for responding to enquiries.