Richard Flinton is a long-serving public servant and the Chief Executive of North Yorkshire Council, a position he took on when the new unitary authority was established in April 2023. Flinton was born in Scarborough and has deep roots in North Yorkshire, where he attended school and college. His career with the local government began in 1987 as a trainee trading standards officer at the predecessor North Yorkshire County Council, where he ascended through the ranks over more than three decades. 

Before becoming Chief Executive in 2010 at the county council, Flinton held several key roles, including assistant head of trading standards, assistant director for business and community services, and corporate director of business and environmental services. His extensive experience provided him with a detailed understanding of the region and its services, which proved invaluable during the transition to the new unitary council. Beyond his work with North Yorkshire, he has taken on broader responsibilities, including chairing the North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum, leading on children's services for the Yorkshire & Humber region, and serving as Honorary Secretary of the Association of County Chief Executives. 

In his leadership role, Flinton has overseen a wide range of services, including children's and adult social care, and has played a significant part in major regional projects. He coordinated the local authority delivery of the Tour de France Grand Départ in Yorkshire in 2014 and was involved with the steering group for the Tour de Yorkshire and the 2019 World Cycling Championships. As the first Chief Executive of the new unitary North Yorkshire Council, Flinton was tasked with leading the merger of eight predecessor councils, overseeing thousands of staff, and managing a significant budget to deliver public services across the count