An update on who is starting new roles in the housing sector

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Clarion Housing Group has appointed Jock Lennox as its new chair.

The chartered accountant, who is also a non-executive director for house builder Barratt, will take over from David Avery, who has completed his nine-year tenure with Clarion’s board and is stepping down after five years as chair.

Mr Lennox will start working with the housing association from the start of May, but will not take over the role until Mr Avery steps down as chair at the end of July.

The incoming chair, who spent 30 years with accountancy firm Ernst & Young and has developed an active board career said of the appointment: “It is a privilege to join Clarion and its excellent team, who are dedicated to providing and maintaining homes for those who need them most.

“I look forward to supporting the executive and non-executive team, helping them continue the legacy of William Sutton, who bequeathed his fortune to provide homes for the working poor nearly 125 years ago. I want to thank David Avery for all his hard work in maintaining this legacy under his Chairmanship, and for his support in ensuring my smooth transition into the role.”

Clare Miller, Clarion’s chief executive, said: “We are delighted to welcome Jock to Clarion. He brings tremendous energy and enthusiasm to the role, as well as extensive relevant experience.

“Jock’s appointment comes at a time of transition and challenge to our sector as we navigate the UK’s desperate need for more social housing, an increasingly complex regulatory environment and significant financial pressures, as well as our need to retrofit our homes to reduce energy bills for our residents. I look forward to working with Jock to lead Clarion through this period.”

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Places for People make Judy Hardy their permanent Chief Risk Officer.

The appointment comes after Judy initially held the role on an interim basis. She joins Places for People’s executive leadership team and will attend its Audit & Risk Committee.

Judy joined Places for People in 2005 and was most recently the company’s Director of Regulation.

Speaking about Judy’s appointment, Greg Reed, Places for People Group CEO said: “I’m proud that one of our own, someone who has been with us for 18 years, is now our Chief Risk Officer. Judy’s vast experience, her knowledge of UK Housing Regulation and her relationships with our regulatory and governance stakeholders, as well as her brilliant awareness and judgment, made her the right person for this critical role.

“At Places for People, we talk about being a ‘force for good’. Judy is the embodiment of that phrase and I’m delighted therefore that she is now part of our executive team and is leading risk across our whole organisation.”

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Tpas appoints new board chair

Former president of the Chartered Institute of Housing, Alison Inman, has been appointed as the new independent chair of tenant engagement experts, Tpas.

Alison, who has served on the Tpas board as an independent member, is also a board member at Saffron Housing Trust, in addition to being co-founder of social housing campaign group, SHOUT.

“It is an honour to be stepping into the role of Chair at Tpas having been part of the organisation’s growth over recent years,” Alison said of the appointment.

“Like all of us here at Tpas, I am a firm believer that when the voice of the tenant is heard, social housing works better. This has been one of my values for many years and I’ll continue to be a vocal champion of tenant involvement as I take on this role.”

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Peabody has named Tariq Kazi as new their Group Treasurer.

A former financier who helped set up the government’s Affordable Housing Guarantee Scheme, Tariq joins from Southern Housing where he was Director of Financial Strategy.

Tariq will help look after Peabody’s borrowings and ensure the Group, which has more than 108,000 homes and 220,000 residents, has enough long-term financial resources to invest in its existing homes, build new homes and create communities.

He’ll also be responsible for credit ratings agencies and bank and bond market investor relations across the Group’s £6bn treasury portfolio.

“The current economic climate means it’s more important than ever that we keep a strong balance sheet to deliver benefits for residents now and in the future,” said Tariq.

“We need to carefully manage financial risk so we can continue to invest in our homes and communities and help people flourish.”

Tariq’s arrival at Peabody follows on from the announcement earlier this month that Phil Day will join as the Group’s new Chief Financial Officer starting in September.