Appointments round-up: October 2024

L&Q

 

 

Waqar Ahmed will step down as L&Q’s executive group director for finance by the end of the current financial year, after more than 16 years in the role.

 

However, after stepping down, he will continue to work with the G15 landlord on a “project basis” as an advisor on initiatives exploring opportunities to facilitate increased investment in affordable housing.

Mr Ahmed joined L&Q as finance manager in 1997, then took up the role of director of treasury and investment in 2005. Since March 2008 he has served as executive group director for finance at the housing association.

L&Q also announced that Liam Coleman, a former chief executive of Co-operative Bank who has more than 30 years’ experience in the financial services industry, has started work as group chair. Predecessor Aubrey Adams has now retired after nine years in the role.

 

Livv Housing Group

 

Merseyside-based Livv Housing Group has appointed Chris Holden as director of finance and investment.

 

Mr Holden has more than 20 years’ experience in finance across a range of sectors. He has joined from the Money and Pensions Service, where he served as corporate director of finance for three-and-a-half years.

 

Salix Homes

 

Sue Sutton will step down from her role as chief executive of Salix Homes next year, after leading the Salford-based housing association for four years.

 

She will retire in 2025 after 25 years working in housing. Ms Sutton joined Salix Homes in 2008, initially on a three-month contract, and worked in various roles across the landlord before taking the reins as chief executive in 2021.

 

Salix Homes has also appointed Martin Warhurst, who is currently chief financial officer at Habinteg Housing Association, as chair of its board. He has taken over from Jim Battle, who reached the end of his term.

 

Mr Warhurst has been a board member at Salix Homes since 2023, when he was appointed as chair of the audit and risk committee.

 

Jason Ridley has also joined Salix Homes’ board and has been appointed chair of the audit and risk committee. He is currently director of finance and IT at Leeds Federated Housing Association.

Hightown Housing Association

 

David Bogle will leave Hightown Housing Association in March 2025 after 30 years in charge.

 

Mr Bogle has served as chief executive of the 9,000-home landlord since 1995. He was briefly a director of Praetorian Housing Association before it merged with Hightown. Prior to this he worked at Anchor for 17 years as a senior manager.

 

A2Dominion

 

A2Dominion has hired Hilary Milne as an interim governance and compliance director to tackle the G15 landlord’s regulatory issues after it was downgraded from G1 to G3 in January.

 

Ms Milne has previously worked for Rochdale Boroughwide Housing, and as group director for governance and compliance at One Housing.

 

Ms Milne has joined A2Dominion on a 12-month fixed-term contract, replacing Anna Keast, who left after serving as director of governance and compliance for seven months. Ms Keast has returned to Local Space, where she worked before she joined A2Dominion in March.

  

Chartered Institute of Housing

 

John Hannigan, chief executive of Circle Voluntary Housing Association, was appointed chair of the Chartered Institute of Housing’s (CIH) governing board at its 16th annual meeting in October.

 

He has replaced Geraldine Howley, who held the position for the past two terms and served on the CIH’s board since 2015.

 

In order to take up the role, Mr Hannigan stepped down as chair of CIH’s audit and risk committee. Chan Kataria, chief executive of EMH Group, was approved as the new chair of this committee. Mr Hannigan has also resigned as chair of CIH Ireland’s advisory board.

 

Also at the AGM, Elly Hoult, chief operating officer at Peabody, became president after Jill Murray stepped down. Julie Haydon, director of corporate services at Wolverhampton Homes, was officially appointed as CIH’s vice-president and approved as a co-optee to the governing board.

 

Chartered Institute of Housing Ireland

 

At its 16th annual meeting in October, Kath Cottier, chief executive of Fold Housing, was approved as chair of CIH Ireland’s advisory board to replace John Hannigan.

 

She has more than 20 years of experience working in the Irish housing association sector and has served on the board of CIH Ireland since 2020.

 

Futures Housing Group

 

Futures Housing Group has appointed Pauline Davis as group chair to replace Mike Stevenson, who has been chair since 2019 and has stepped down after serving his maximum term of office.

 

Ms Davis, who was previously a board member and vice-chair, brings more than 30 years’ experience in housing, health, regeneration and education.

 

She retired from her role as deputy chief executive and corporate director of economic development and regeneration at Hull City Council in 2014.

 

Scottish Housing Regulator

 

Dr Abhishek Agarwal joined the Scottish Housing Regulator as a board member in October following an appointment by Scottish ministers.

 

He is currently a non-executive board member of NHS Healthcare Improvement Scotland and has previously served as a board member and chair of Grampian Housing Group.

 

Sage Homes

 

For-profit provider Sage Homes has appointed Julia Porter to its board, replacing Gareth Llewellyn, who completed his term of office earlier this year.

 

Ms Porter, who will chair the group’s remuneration and nomination committee, has more than 13 years of non-executive director experience in listed, for-profit, start-up and not-for-profit organisations.

 

She is a non-executive director and chair of the remuneration committee at Hollywood Bowl Group and has also served as a non-executive director and chair of the customer services committee at Origin Housing.