Published: April 2, 2026 at 4:10 pm
Tributes have been paid to Eamonn Boylan OBE, former chief executive of Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM).
Boylan led GMCA and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) from 2017, and TfGM from 2019, through the defining years of English devolution.
Under his leadership, both GMCA and TfGM became trailblazers for devolution, unlocking new powers and responsibilities for Greater Manchester and taking buses back under public control for the first time in 40 years.
He also steered the city region through the aftermath of the Manchester Arena attack in 2017 and the response to the coronavirus pandemic.
In 2023, he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to local government.
He retired from GMCA in 2024, going on to serve as interim chief executive of Manchester City Council and Homes England.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said: “This is a devastating loss, and my thoughts today are with Eamonn’s family, friends, and all those who knew him.
“Eamonn was the public servant’s public servant, and a giant of English devolution. He led from the front but was rarely in the spotlight, taking every opportunity to lift up and empower those around him.”