Thomas Glen

Thomas Glen was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Perth & Kinross Council in November 2021. In this role, he is responsible for overseeing the strategic and operational management of the Council, with a commitment to enhancing public services and fostering community engagement within the region. Perth & Kinross is the 12th largest of Scotland’s 32 local authorities, with a population of 151,000 and an annual budget of £519m.

Thomas has emphasised the importance of collaboration, working closely with both Council staff and the community to achieve common goals. Under his leadership, Perth and Kinross Council has undertaken numerous initiatives aimed at improving local infrastructure, enhancing educational services, and promoting economic development, including the £27m redevelopment of the new Perth Museum, which opened in March 2024 as the home of the historic Stone of Destiny.

He has been a strong advocate for sustainable practices and has been instrumental in advancing the Council’s environmental agenda. His focus on sustainability is reflected in a number of Council projects designed to reduce carbon emissions and promote green energy solutions.

In the late 1980s, he began his career as a community worker, and has worked across local government, central government, the voluntary sector and private sector consultancy. His career in local government spans more than 30 years. He worked with East Dunbartonshire Council from 2009, latterly as Deputy Chief Executive from 2016. Thomas is actively involved with SOLACE, the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives, and represents SOLACE on the Board of the Scottish Government’s Digital Office, which supports Scottish local authorities with their digital transformation journeys, adopting a “Once for Scotland’ approach to digital transformation.