Boss of 9,000-home landlord to step down after 30 years

“Our long-serving chief executive, David Bogle, has announced that he will be leaving Hightown in March 2025 after over 30 years’ service,” the statement said. 

Hemel Hempstead-based Hightown currently has a G1/V2 rating with the English regulator and saw its outlook from Moody’s upgraded to ‘stable’ in March.

In its last reported full-year to the end of March 2024, the association recorded a 42 per cent drop in annual surplus to £10.6m as its interest payments and financing costs rose. Turnover increased to £121m. 

Under Mr Bogle, Hightown has grown its stock from 550 homes to 9,000, the landlord said.

Mr Bogle said Hightown “delivers demonstrable social value and makes a major contribution to ending homelessness in the region”.

He added: “I am most grateful to the Hightown staff and our other stakeholders for their exceptional support for our vision and purpose over the past 30 years.”

Qadeer Kiani, chair of Hightown, said: “We are very grateful to David for his long service and the legacy which he will leave behind after a tenure of distinguished success for the organisation. 

“We will shortly be advertising the post to seek a new chief executive to lead Hightown, to continue to build on our strong foundations and to further enhance the impact of our work.”

In December 2023, Hightown raised £125m through a private placement under green loan principles.