Ian Thomas (town clerk)

Ian Thomas
CBE
Ian Thomas CBE
Born	1969; Sheffield, Yorkshire, UK
Nationality	British
Occupation	Town Clerk & Chief Executive of the City of London Corporation

Ian Cornelius Thomas CBE (born 1969) serves as the 51st Town Clerk of London and Chief Executive of the City of London Corporation since 2023.^[1]

Early life

Born in South Yorkshire to parents from Jamaica who immigrated to England as part of the Windrush generation, Thomas originally wanted to be a footballer and was signed to Sheffield United until a back injury. He is related to Jessica Ennis-Hill.^[2]

Thomas attended Newfield Secondary School, Sheffield, before pursuing further studies, graduating as MA in professional practice (change management) from Lancaster University in 2007.^[3]

Career

Thomas served in local government for over 20 years prior to joining the City of London in 2023. Thomas has built a national profile as one of the country's leading public service Chief Executives, having forged his career as a leader in transformation, social care and health services.^[4]

Thomas started his career in public service at Trafford Council in 1999, and then joined Derbyshire County Council (2006–14), becoming Deputy CEO (2011–14).

Rotherham Borough Council

Thomas was initially headhunted on a one-year contract by Malcolm Newsam, the children's social care commissioner appointed by the government to oversee children's and young people's services in Rotherham in the wake of the Jay Report by Professor Alexis Jay.^[5] As Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council's Strategic Director for Children and Young People from 2015 until 2018,^[6] Thomas transformed the council's social services,^[7] being appointed CBE in 2019 for his leadership in the wake of the rotherham child sexual exploitation scandal.^[8] Under his leadership, the number of children in Derbyshire who achieved five or more GCSEs trebled in a single year. Ofsted praised Thomas's leadership for creating "a culture of learning, support and challenge."^[9]

Lewisham Council and Kingston upon Thames Council

He was Chief Executive of the London Borough of Lewisham in 2018, before serving as CEO of the Royal Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames (2019–23)^[10] where he led award-winning public services and a £1.2bn regeneration programme providing 3,000 new homes, schools, leisure & cultural facilities, 4,000 new jobs and apprenticeships and attracting inward investment, including Unilever’s new global HQ.^[11]

Corporation of the City of London

Appointed Town Clerk and Chief Executive of the City Corporation in February 2023, he is also the Chief Executive of the Police Authority and oversees the City of London Police within the City of London. The Town Clerk, a position dating back to the 13th century, acts as head of the paid service, leading over 4,000 City Corporation staff, and is the organisation’s principal adviser to elected Members on matters of policy.^[12]

References

^ "About us". City of London.
^ Pidd, Helen (17 December 2014). "Incoming Rotherham children's chief: 'It's the most difficult job in Britain'". The Guardian.
^ Pidd, Helen (17 December 2014). "Incoming Rotherham children's chief: 'It's the most difficult job in Britain'". The Guardian.
^ "City Corporation appoints new Town Clerk and Chief Executive". www.cityoflondon.gov.uk.
^ Pidd, Helen (17 December 2014). "Incoming Rotherham children's chief: 'It's the most difficult job in Britain'". The Guardian.
^ "Children's services in Rotherham 'transformed' since CSE scandal". CYP Now.
^ "New Year's Honour for Ian Thomas for leading transformation in wake of Rotherham CSE scandals".
^ "City Corporation appoints new Town Clerk and Chief Executive". www.cityoflondon.gov.uk.
^ Pidd, Helen (17 December 2014). "Incoming Rotherham children's chief: 'It's the most difficult job in Britain'". The Guardian.
^ "New Year's Honours List 2019". GOV.UK.
^ "City Corporation appoints new Town Clerk and Chief Executive". www.cityoflondon.gov.uk.
^ "City Corporation appoints new Town Clerk and Chief Executive". www.cityoflondon.gov.uk.

External links

Civic offices
Preceded by John Barradell	Town Clerk of London 2023–present	Succeeded by in office

[1] "About us". City of London.

[2] Pidd, Helen (17 December 2014). "Incoming Rotherham children's chief: 'It's the most difficult job in Britain'". The Guardian.

[3] Pidd, Helen (17 December 2014). "Incoming Rotherham children's chief: 'It's the most difficult job in Britain'". The Guardian.

[4] "City Corporation appoints new Town Clerk and Chief Executive". www.cityoflondon.gov.uk.

[5] Pidd, Helen (17 December 2014). "Incoming Rotherham children's chief: 'It's the most difficult job in Britain'". The Guardian.

[6] "Children's services in Rotherham 'transformed' since CSE scandal". CYP Now.

[7] "New Year's Honour for Ian Thomas for leading transformation in wake of Rotherham CSE scandals".

[8] "City Corporation appoints new Town Clerk and Chief Executive". www.cityoflondon.gov.uk.

[9] Pidd, Helen (17 December 2014). "Incoming Rotherham children's chief: 'It's the most difficult job in Britain'". The Guardian.

[10] "New Year's Honours List 2019". GOV.UK.

[11] "City Corporation appoints new Town Clerk and Chief Executive". www.cityoflondon.gov.uk.

[12] "City Corporation appoints new Town Clerk and Chief Executive". www.cityoflondon.gov.uk.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

v t e City of London
City of London Corporation Parks and open spaces
Wards	Aldersgate Aldgate Bassishaw Billingsgate Bishopsgate Bread Street Bridge Broad Street Candlewick Castle Baynard Cheap Coleman Street Cordwainer Cornhill Cripplegate Dowgate Farringdon Within Farringdon Without Langbourn Lime Street Portsoken Queenhithe Tower Vintry Walbrook
Enclaves	Inner Temple Middle Temple
Localities	Barbican Blackfriars Broadgate Farringdon Holborn Minories Smithfield Temple
Attractions	20 Fenchurch Street Bank of England Museum Barbican Centre Clockmakers' Museum College of Arms Dr Johnson's House Finsbury Circus Guildhall Art Gallery Leadenhall Market London Mithraeum London Stone Mansion House The Monument Museum of London One New Change Prince Henry's Room Royal Exchange St Paul's Cathedral Smithfield Market
Notable structures	2 Hare Court 2 King's Bench Walk Aldgate Pump Bank of England Bevis Marks Synagogue Golden Boy of Pye Corner Guildhall Heron Tower Holborn Circus Lloyd's building London Stock Exchange Merchant Taylors' Hall National Firefighters Memorial Old Bailey Old Billingsgate Market The Gherkin Tower 42
Civil parishes	List of civil parishes in the City of London
Bridges	Blackfriars Bridge Blackfriars Railway Bridge Cannon Street Railway Bridge Holborn Viaduct London Bridge Millennium Footbridge Southwark Bridge
Rail and tube stations	Aldgate Bank–Monument Barbican Blackfriars Cannon Street City Thameslink Fenchurch Street Liverpool Street Mansion House Moorgate St Paul's Tower Gateway
Topics	Coat of arms Flag History Listed buildings at Grade I at Grade II* Livery companies Lord Lieutenants Lord mayors Lord Mayor's Show Public art and memorials Sheriffs Street names
Category