‘When he spoke, you listened’
An architect of change, his achievements touched every corner of Greater Manchester. His wisdom, leadership and ability to bring people together inspired many. He was a man who got things done.
Eamonn Boylan OBE, one of the region’s most influential and powerful political figures, has died aged 66. He leaves behind wife Maria and two children.
In a career spanning more than four decades, he worked roles in local government in Greater Manchester, Sheffield and London. He dedicated his life to public service and left his mark wherever he went.
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“When he spoke, you listened,” one former colleague said. He made Greater Manchester an ‘effective, efficient machine’.
He was deputy chief executive in Manchester from 2001 to 2008 and served as Stockport’s top boss from 2010 for seven years, laying the foundations for the town’s future success.
Mr Boylan led the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) as chief executive from 2017 to 2024, with responsibility over Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS).
In 2019, he also took over Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), overseeing the return of buses under public control.
Mr Boylan steered the GMCA and TfGM through a period in which the government gave the organisations more responsibilities to make decisions and run services locally. He spearheaded the ‘trailblazer’ devolution deal, giving politicians and public officials in more influence over transport, education and housing.
He guided the GMCA through difficult times – from the Manchester Arena terrorist attack that led to big changes at GMFRS, to the Covid crisis and the appointment of a new chief constable of GMP after the force’s failings were exposed in 2020.
Mr Boylan stepped down from the GMCA in 2023, saying: “I am immensely proud of what we have created together in Greater Manchester, and I hope that we continue to grow and prosper and make this city-region the best place to get on, grow up and get old.”
A return to Stockport soon beckoned as interim chair of Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC). And in 2024 when Manchester needed an interim chief executive while a permanent replacement was found for Joanne Roney – there was only one name in contention. He also served as Homes England interim chief executive in 2025.
When he was needed, he stepped up. He was trusted. In the world of local government, where change is slow and difficult, Mr Boylan had a knack for getting things done.
Like the man he deputised for in Manchester, he was a fixer who talked big and delivered. Like the late, great Sir Howard Bernstein, Mr Boylan led with steely determination and dedication. His leadership inspired those around him.
Following Mr Boylan’s death, less than two years after Sir Howard, former colleagues sense the end of an era in drawing is near. His fingerprints are all over Greater Manchester’s finest achievements, But Mr Boylan wasn’t one to hog the limelight.
“Eamonn was the public servant’s public servant and a giant of English devolution,” Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said.
“He led from the front but was rarely in the spotlight, taking every opportunity to lift up and empower those around him.”
“At the most crucial moment in Greater Manchester’s devolution journey, he took the foundations laid by past leaders and built it into an effective, efficient machine that continues to deliver.”
As tributes poured in, one word continued to appear in former colleague’s statements – ‘humour’. Mr Burnham spoke of his ‘great support, guidance, good humour and friendship’.
Tom Stannard, current Manchester chief executive said: “He has been a mentor, confidante and adviser to me and many colleagues – always a source of great wisdom, advice and humour in the face of challenges, generous with his time and attention, and someone with an unswerving commitment to improving the whole of Greater Manchester for the benefit of its residents.”
GMCA group chief executive Caroline Simpson said Mr Boylan was a ‘a friend and a mentor whose massive intellect, humility, humour and kindness shone through every day’.
‘Stockport is the place it is today because of him’
It was while working at Stockport MDC that Mr Boylan planted the seeds of much of the town’s staggering transformation, which has seen it win national accolades as a place to live and work.
A massive £1bn of investment has flooded into the borough, creating a new transport interchange, apartments and business hub. The changes are not stopping anytime soon, with the regeneration area recently expanding to cover the entirety of Stockport town centre.
Councillor Mark Hunter, a former Stockport council leader, said of Mr Boylan: “He was a public service man through and through and helped shape the vision for the town centre transformation.
“He was there at the very beginning, he was one of the architects of the whole thing. He played a key role, there is no doubt about that, both in Stockport and across the wider Greater Manchester region.”
Councillor David Meller, former leader of the opposition at Stockport council, said Mr Boylan’s ‘fingerprints are all over the borough’.
He added: “He was plain-talking, really pleasant and focused on wanting to get stuff done. He wanted to cut through the blockers and find ways to get things done, bringing people together.
“He just had that gravitas and expertise in what he had done. He was a person who when he spoke, you would listen.”
Mark Roberts, current leader of Stockport council, said: “Stockport is the place it is today because of the strong foundations Eamonn helped to build. His leadership gave our borough confidence, and his legacy can be seen in our town’s physical investment and ambition that carries through to today and the future.
“Eamonn dedicated his life to public service and was held in high regard not just for his professionalism, but for the way he worked with people across the council and across political lines with a focus on always doing the right thing for local communities.”
Mr Boylan was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to local government in 2023. It marked the pinnacle of an extraordinary career.
GMCA group chief executive Ms Simpson said: “His dedication and his determination to get things done will leave a lasting legacy here. He will remain an indelible part of the fabric of our city region’s growth and success.”
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