KING’S BIRTHDAY HONOUR FOR SOUTH YORKSHIRE MAYORAL COMBINED AUTHORITY CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Published 15 June 2024 at 7:45am

•    Martin Swales awarded OBE 
•    South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard praises leadership of Chief Executive

Chief Executive of South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, Martin Swales, has been awarded an OBE for services to Local Government in the King’s Birthday Honours List.

Martin has steered the organisation through wide ranging changes to support growth and extend opportunities for the people and communities of South Yorkshire.  These changes include: developing a new regional economic Growth Plan, securing the UK’s first Investment Zone and driving forward an integrated transport system, including the recent transfer of Supertram into public control and implementing bus service reform. Martin has both overseen the statutory process transferring Police and Crime Commissioner functions to the Mayor and undertaken a fundamental governance review of the MCA to deliver organisational change and support regional collaboration.

Martin’s career in Local Government started as a graduate with Leeds City Council before moving back to his native North East, working for both North and South Tyneside Councils. He served as Head of Paid Service for the former North East Combined Authority and as a principal adviser on the Board of Newcastle Airport. He is a former UK President of the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives. For over twenty years Martin has also worked with senior colleagues across Whitehall to represent local authorities and MCAs on economic growth, devolution, housing and place policies.

Speaking about being awarded an OBE, father of four Martin Swales said; “I’m incredibly honoured to receive this award. I feel an enormous sense of pride and appreciation to have been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours.

“I’ve had the fabulous opportunity of working in public services for 40 years, of which almost fourteen years have been as a Chief Executive. My passion for making a difference to people’s lives and their communities, from attracting jobs and supporting economic growth to ensuring people get help when they’re in difficult times, has never waned.

“It has been a real privilege to lead several outstanding local government organisations, working with highly motivated teams driving transformational change. In South Yorkshire we are now a stronger region with outstanding economic prospects.

This is an honour I share with the talented people I have worked alongside and recognition of our many achievements together.” 

South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, said: “Honours are designed to recognise the best of public service, so I’m delighted that Martin’s dedication to helping people and places has now been recognised by His Majesty the King in this way.

“His work, not only in South Yorkshire but throughout his years in local government, has been defined by his integrity, his record of delivery, and his commitment to making life better for others. Martin’s work has made a huge difference to people wherever he has been, and we are lucky to have him working with us as we move South Yorkshire forward.”