Trident Group hires Nigel Wilson as chief executive

Mr Wilson has more than 30 years of social housing experience and 16 years as a chief executive. He began his housing career in housing co-operatives in Birmingham and worked subsequently in the West Midlands, Manchester, and latterly in Sunderland, in the North East.

He has experience leading Parkway Green Housing Trust, Wythenshawe Community Housing Group and Gentoo Group. He stepped down as chief executive of Gentoo in March after almost four years in charge, during which he oversaw the Sunderland-based housing association’s climb from non-compliant to G1. No reason was given at the time for Mr Wilson’s resignation from Gentoo.

Mr Wilson also has experience supporting the work of the National Housing Federation, the Northern Housing Consortium and HACT at board level. He has also served as chair of Homes for the North.

Mr Morris said: “My time as chief executive has been incredibly fulfilling and rewarding and I am proud of how we have continued to be a beacon of hope for our local community.

“I would like to wish Nigel, the board, and all at Trident all the very best for the future.”

Mr Wilson said: “I am delighted to have this great opportunity to succeed John and know what a superb organisation Trident Group is, with a complete focus on its core social purpose.

“It feels like coming home to Birmingham and the Midlands where my housing journey began.”

Trident Group is currently graded G1/V2 by the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) after it was among 13 providers downgraded to V2 on 14 December.

At the time, the regulator said that Trident’s financial position was “adversely impacted” by inflationary pressures and by the increased costs of planned borrowing to deliver its development programme.

“This reduces its interest cover headroom and therefore its capacity to withstand adverse risks,” the RSH said.

According to its financial results, Trident grew its pre-tax surplus from £414,000 in 2020-21 to £1.3m in 2021-22.