Chief Executive Designate announced for proposed merger
Thrive Homes and Watford Community Housing have announced the appointment of Paul Richmond as Chief Executive Designate of the proposed new housing association to be formed following a potential merger between the two associations.
Paul is currently Chief Executive of Thrive Homes, where he has worked closely with colleagues and customers to advance the association’s mission and continue providing high-quality affordable housing options to enable individuals and families to thrive.
After more than 18 years as Chief Executive of Watford Community Housing, Tina Barnard has decided that she will step down from 1 June 2026, if the merger goes ahead.
Paul joined Thrive Homes from Watford Community Housing, where he was Deputy Chief Executive. In this position, Paul was part of the management team that delivered top C1 and G1/V1 ratings from the Regulator of Social Housing, giving him a proven track record in driving organisational growth and transformation.
A qualified accountant with an MBA from Cranfield University, Paul’s career before housing was in financial services. Over 15 years in the industry Paul held a number of roles including Finance Director for insurer AXA UK, giving him deep expertise in strategic planning, risk management and corporate governance.
Paul said:
“I am delighted to be appointed to this designate role at an exciting time for Thrive Homes and Watford Community Housing. These two organisations share not only geography, but also a deep commitment to delivering much-needed homes and providing excellent services to customers. Bringing together these outstanding organisations will better serve our communities, equip us to face the challenges of tomorrow and help us to address the growing demand for high-quality social and affordable housing.”
Tina Barnard, current Chief Executive of Watford Community Housing, said:
“As we work towards an exciting partnership that will deliver improved services for residents, I have decided that this is the right time for me to step down.
“I am immensely proud of everything we have achieved at Watford Community Housing since our formation in 2007, and the proposed merger is an opportunity to further strengthen our offering to our customers and communities. It is especially important to us that the new organisation will be a larger Community Gateway housing association, as giving residents a stronger voice has been a key part of our success.
“Having worked closely with Paul during his time at Watford Community Housing, I know that the new organisation will be in good hands if the merger goes ahead.”
The proposed merger between Thrive Homes and Watford Community Housing would create a new customer-focused Community Gateway housing association serving more than 12,000 households across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and North-West London.
Both organisations are consulting residents over the proposed merger. If approved, the formal partnership could be in place by June 2026.
