What we do

Our Group Board

The Group Board sets our strategic direction. Find out more about who they are.

Chris Cheshire – Chair

Chris Cheshire – Chair

Chris is a Chartered Construction Manager with 37 years’ experience and he has been involved in the social housing sector for much of that time. Having been a Director of Asset Management for a large housing provider in London, as well as owning and managing his own businesses for the last 25 years, he has a broad range of public and commercial sector skills. Chris has been an active board member for different organisations for 25 years and currently sits on one other board. He has been involved with the Group since 2016, initially as a Board Co-optee and Chair of Clarendon Living, our commercial subsidiary.

Dale Butcher

Dale Butcher

Dale is a highly skilled businessman with expertise in strategy, business planning, transformation and growth. He was Chair of Greenfields Community Housing from 2017-20 before its merger with Colne to form Eastlight Community Housing, and is Chair of its Development and Asset Management Committee where he brings a blend of commercial knowledge, understanding of development and the needs of residents and communities to the Board. He was previously Group Development Director of Inchcape PLC (1986-2012), a trustee of the Inchcape Pension Scheme and Chair of its Investment Committee (1990-2012), Chair of the Lynch Hill Academy Trust (2016-19) and a Trustee of the Enthusiasm Trust Derby (2014-19).

Simon David

Simon David

Simon has over 21 years of experience in the Career Management industry and has played a leading role as an operational manager, careers coach and consultant across the public, private and charity sector. His ongoing work ensures that the most disadvantaged members of the community have tangible access to employment and training opportunities at businesses of all sizes. Simon aims to use his experience as a Watford Community Housing leaseholder, as well as his previous experience of working for a local authority, to ensure that we keep tenants at the heart of our business.

Richard Hanrahan

Richard Hanrahan

Rich is a chartered accountant with 15 years’ experience working in the Banking and Finance industry. In his current role, as the CFO of a Mayfair-based bank, he holds a regulated Senior Manager Function role. Prior to this Rich spent 14 years working for a large UK retail bank leading teams across a host of disciplines from Treasury and Finance through to Strategy and market-facing transaction-focused roles. As a local resident of the Watford area, he is passionate about utilising his knowledge and experience to further the prospects of Watford Community Housing for the good of the tenants and all stakeholders. Rich also holds the CFA and Chartered Banker qualifications and is a governor of a local secondary school.

Clare Norton

Clare Norton

Clare has worked to alleviate homelessness for over 30 years, striving to help people experiencing homelessness and those with vulnerabilities to find homes. For the last ten years, Clare has been the CEO of Peter Bedford Housing Association. Prior to this, Clare was Regional Director of Operations at Centrepoint and ran her own housing consultancy.

Jenny Pattinson

Jenny Pattinson

Jenny is the CEO of Nightingale Hammerson, a charity that provides Residential, Nursing, Dementia and end-of-life care to over 250 people across their two nursing homes in London. She also represents Nightingale Hammerson on the Board of Care England. Jenny is an elected Councillor and Cabinet Member at Watford Borough Council where she is responsible for the Housing and Well-being Portfolio. She chairs the steering group for Dementia Friendly Watford and the Health and Well-being Forum, currently sits on the board of Watford Citizens Advice Bureau, and is Co-Chair of Governors at her local infant school.

Jamie Ratcliff

Jamie Ratcliff

Jamie has nearly 20 years’ experience working at a senior level in local, national and regional housing, including commencing the Stirling Prize winning Goldsmith St development and being responsible for housing for the current and previous Mayors of London. He is currently Chief Communities & Sustainability Officer for SNG (Sovereign Network Group). As well as being a member of our Group Board, he is Chair of Clarendon Living, our commercial arm, and a member of our Investment Committee.

Michael Suarez

Michael Suarez

Michael works as a Consultant in the Government and not-for-profit sector supporting tech and non-tech transformation. His areas of expertise have included housing associations and other registered social landlords, as well as local and regional government, health industries, and education. Michael has a range of experience as a non-executive director, including with one of the public sector’s leading financial management accountancy bodies. He joined our Group Board in 2021 and is also Chair of our Audit & Risk Committee.

Tim Willcocks

Tim Willcocks

Tim is a Chartered Planning and Development surveyor with over 25 years’ experience in the property world, including sales and marketing, development, consultancy and housing policy. He joined the affordable housing sector in 2007, leading successful sales and development teams, and working on national housing policy at the Homes and Communities Agency (now Homes England). Tim is currently Director of Public Sector Engagement at Heylo Housing, and he is also Chair of our Investment Committee.


Our committees

We also have a range of committees that provide support and work closely with our Group Board. 

 

Customer Experience Committee:

The Customer Experience Committee oversee matters relating to the Group’s customer-facing services. A few of their key tasks include monitoring customer feedback and using this information to drive improvement, ensuring the active promotion of membership opportunities and resident engagement and approving key policies and objectives relating to customer-facing services.

 

Investment Committee:

The Investment Committee manages the current and future assets of the Group. For example, they oversee programmes of investment including land acquisition and regeneration, recommend effective Asset Management and Sustainability strategies to the Group Board and oversee their delivery, and identify opportunities for growth and diversification relating to social, affordable, market rent and shared ownership schemes.

 

Remuneration & Appraisal Committee:

The Remuneration & Appraisal Committee are responsible for carrying out the annual appraisal of the Chief Executive, as well as setting their objectives and recommending their remuneration. They also interview new members for the Group Board, Committee members and members of the Executive Management Team and recommend appointments to the Group Board.

 

Audit & Risk Committee:

The Audit & Risk Committee have operational oversight of the Group’s performance in relations to Key Risk Indicators, monitor the implementation of recommendations from internal and external audits and review the Annual Report and Financial Statements.