Mayor Ben Houchen
Tees Valley Mayor
Ben qualified as a solicitor in 2009 and practised corporate law, commercial law and commercial litigation for six years before running his own business. He was UK & European CEO of an international sportswear company. He was also leader of the Conservative Group on Stockton Borough Council from 2014 to 2017.
He was elected as the first Mayor of the Tees Valley in 2017 and was re-elected in 2021 with 73% of the vote. He was then elected for a third term in 2024 and currently continues to serve as the elected Mayor.
In his first term, Ben successfully delivered his manifesto pledge to save Teesside Airport from closure and is continuing to deliver the 10-year Rescue Plan for the airport.
He is responsible for establishing the first Mayoral Development Corporation (South Tees Development Corporation - Teesworks) outside of London, second only to the Olympic Park – which was set up for the 2012 Olympics. The Development Corporation is responsible for the regeneration of the largest brownfield site in western Europe, which has attracted billions of pounds in foreign direct investment and is creating thousands of manufacturing jobs in industries like offshore wind, hydrogen and carbon, capture and storage. He has also created two more Mayoral Development Corporations to help regenerate Middlesbrough and Hartlepool town centres.
He has also helped to deliver national policies to help level up the country, including being one of the architects of the UK’s Freeport policy. As a result, he was able to establish the UK’s first and largest freeport – the Teesside Freeport. He also worked closely with Government to bring the newly established Treasury Economic Campus to Darlington, which is the premier home for the Treasury outside of London.
Councillor Steve Harker
Leader of Darlington Borough Council
He has held a number of Cabinet portfolios on Darlington Borough Council, including the Resources portfolio. Councillor Harker strongly believes that the Combined Authority, working together with the 5 Tees Valley Councils, can bring beneficial change to people across the Tees Valley.
Councillor Harker grew up in Stokesley and moved to Darlington in 1990. He worked in the software industry for over 30 years, supporting the day-to-day operations of the UK rail industry.
Councillor Brenda Harrison
Leader of Hartlepool Borough Council and Deputy Mayor
She is a Labour Councillor and has represented the De Bruce Ward since May 2016. She served as Chair of the Council’s Children’s Services Committee from 2018/19.
Prior to entering politics, Councillor Harrison’s career was in education, spending 33 years of her career teaching music and English in a Hartlepool secondary school.
Councillor Harrison is the portfolio holder for culture on the TVCA Cabinet and is passionate about delivering a brighter future for Hartlepool and the wider Tees Valley and ensuring young people have a voice to be heard.
Mayor Chris Cooke
Mayor of Middlesbrough
During his four years as a councillor, Chris also worked as a community cohesion coordinator.
Chris is committed to raising the life chances of the most vulnerable people in society.
Councillor Alec Brown
Leader of Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council
Councillor Brown, who serves in the Kirkleatham ward in Redcar, was first elected to the Council in 2015. He served as the Cabinet member for Neighbourhoods in the Council’s administration between 2015 and 2019.
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Councillor Bob Cook
Leader of Stockton Borough Council
Councillor Cook represents the Borough on a range of bodies including the Association of North East Councils, Local Government Association General Assembly, North East Purchasing Organisation and North East Regional Employers’ Organisation. He worked in the chemical industry for 31 years before taking up his current post of Agent/Office Manager for Stockton North MP, Alex Cunningham, in 2010.
Email: [email protected]
Siobhan McArdle
Business Board Chair
Prior to that Siobhan worked as a Management Consultant working nationally and internationally on strategy development, performance improvement , turnaround and transformational change in partnership with large global corporate organisations, high growth SMEs and public sector organisations including the NHS.
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