YORKSHIRE Forward has appointed Thea Stein as its new chief executive.

Ms Stein will take up the role on July 1 for an initial 12-month period. She is currently the regional development agency’s executive director of economic inclusion.

Ms Stein joined Yorkshire Forward in 2006 having worked across a wide variety of roles in the public sector. She also has extensive management experience – including managing organisational change and tackling finances.

She succeeds Tom Riordan, who is leaving Yorkshire Forward in the summer to become chief executive of Leeds City Council.