North Yorkshire Council’s chief executive Richard Flinton is to retire next year after almost 40 years working in local government in the county.
Mr Flinton, the council’s most senior officer, will step down at the end of March 2027, ahead of the local elections in May.
The recruitment process to find his successor is expected to begin in the coming weeks.
Mr Flinton, who was born in Scarborough, joined the former North Yorkshire County Council as a trainee trading standards officer in October 1987 and worked his way through the authority before being appointed chief executive in 2010.
He went on to oversee one of the biggest changes to local government in North Yorkshire for decades when the county council and seven district and borough councils were replaced by the new unitary North Yorkshire Council in April 2023.
Mr Flinton said the creation of the authority was among the achievements of which he was most proud.
He also helped deliver the devolution deal for York and North Yorkshire, which transferred additional decision-making powers and Government funding to the area.
As chair of the North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, Mr Flinton also played a leading role during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the council was responsible for maintaining services and communicating public health information across the county.
Explaining his decision to retire, Mr Flinton said: “This has been an extremely difficult decision to make, and I have loved working with so many great people committed to doing their best for North Yorkshire’s residents and businesses.
“However, the time feels right ahead of the next elections, in May 2027, and with the work of merging eight councils into one new unitary authority largely completed.”
He added: “I am immensely proud of all that we have achieved.”
Council leader Cllr Carl Les thanked Mr Flinton for his service, highlighting his role in both devolution and local government reorganisation.
“I’ve been one of only two leaders during his time as chief executive, and I would like to personally thank Richard for his unfailing advice and guidance during my 12 years as leader,” he said.
“I wish him well for the future and a happy and healthy retirement.”
Mr Flinton held several senior positions before becoming chief executive, including assistant director for business and community services and corporate director of business and environmental services.
He was confirmed as chief executive of the new North Yorkshire Council in August 2022, ahead of its launch the following April.
The council’s annual pay policy for senior officers for 2025/26 showed that as chief executive, he earned £211,044 a year, while 32 officers earned a six-figure sum.
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