Figures from Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) Group show that eight employees earn an annual six figure salary. The updated figures have been confirmed following the reorganisation of the combined authority which has seen the splitting of roles and responsibilities as well as the creation and deletion of positions, with the ambition of improving following the Tees Valley Review. A TVCA spokesperson said all salaries are in-line with peer authorities and industry standards.
As a result of the changes, the number of individuals on over £100,000 a year has risen to eight people. TVCA publish the salaries of earners over £50,000. In February 2025, when the publicly available figures were last published online, there were five TVCA senior salaries which passed the £100,000 mark. It is worth noting that some of the positions which feature in the updated figures relate entirely to the development corporations, which wasn’t the case in February.
The highest salary has been reduced from £180,582 (which is what former group chief executive Julie Gilhespie received) to £160,000, the salary which new chief executive Tom Bryant receives. Bryant will serve solely as the chief executive of TVCA, whereas the group chief executive headed up both TVCA and South Tees Development Corporation (STDC). The chief operating officer (and now chief executive) of STDC is in receipt of £145,656.
Salaries over £80,000
There are a total of 16 staff members who earn over £80,000 annually, many of whom head up areas such as transport. Those positions which receive more than £80,000 a year are listed below:
- Chief executive (Tom Bryant): £160,000
- Chief operating officer (also now chief executive), STDC: £145,656
- Group director of finance and resources: £129,103
- Director of infrastructure (interim): £129,103
- Director of business solutions: £129,103
- Director of operations: £129,103
- Chief operating officer, Middlesbrough and Hartlepool Development Corporations: £129,103
- Director of inward investment and marketing: £129,103
- Group chief legal and monitoring officer: £98,916
- Assistant director – people and operations: £98,916
- Head of business solutions: £89,477
- Head of transport: £89,477
- Head of finance and commercial, STDC: £85,182
- Group financial controller: £80,026
- Head of investment development: (interim): £80,026
- Head of improvement: £80,026
Commenting on the figures, a TVCA spokesperson said: “The TVCA Group has responsibility for hundreds of staff and significant budgets across five organisations – the TVCA, Middlesbrough Development Corporation, Hartlepool Development Corporation, South Tees Development Corporation and Teesside International Airport – with the TVCA alone responsible for billions of pounds to drive investment, jobs and better infrastructure across our region.
“The group requires talented staff and leaders to help it reach its goals, improve and deliver for the people of the Tees Valley. Salaries are in-line with peer authorities and industry standards.”
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