Richard joined Liverpool City Region Combined Authority in 2022 as Executive Director, Place.

As Deputy Chief Executive and Director General for Merseytravel, Richard is responsible for a billion-pound investment programme, providing strategic direction and management of the key transport functions and services of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. This includes overseeing Asset Management, Bus, Rail, Mersey Tunnels, Mersey Ferries, the Key Route Network and Active Travel. Rolling Stock, a project which will introduce a new fleet of trains to the region and Mersey Tidal, a multi-billion pound energy infrastructure project, also sit within his portfolio.

Richard has 32 years’ experience at an executive level in Local Government and before joining the Combined Authority, was a senior executive at Director level across the economic and development agenda at Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council. Richard also operated within the Tees Valley Combined Authority and has advised on various groups including its Management Group.

Richard is a Chartered Civil Engineer by trade whose early career focused on highway and major civil engineering projects. He was born and grew up in Stockton and has been fortunate to be involved in many of the large and small-scale civil engineering projects in his home town. Richard’s background and expertise includes leading a diverse range of services including Highways, Transport, Planning, Housing, Economic Growth, Carbon Reduction and Business Investment.