English Rural Housing Association appoints new Chief Executive

English Rural Housing Association is delighted to announce the appointment of Martin Collett as its new Chief Executive. Martin will take over when after 12 successful years the current Chief Executive, Adrian Maunders retires in the Spring of 2019.

Martin brings with him a wealth of housing association sector and rural expertise, developed during his current role as Operations Director at English Rural and before that, the Rural Housing Trust. He is the current Chair of the Rural Housing Alliance and principal architect of the 5-star plan for rural housing.

Martin will lead English Rural as it refreshes its strategic ambitions, building on the strong business legacy secured by the outgoing Chief Executive, Adrian Maunders, including the recent gradings of G1 and V1 following an In-Depth Assessment by the Regulator for Social Housing. During Adrian’s tenure, English Rural has doubled the number of affordable rural homes under management and enhanced the Association’s reputation in particular with the support of the Royal patronage of HRH Princess Anne, The Princess Royal.

Commenting on the appointment, Mark Tillson, Chairman, English Rural Housing Association, said: –

“The Board of English Rural are sorry to say farewell to Adrian who has been an accomplished leader, successfully stewarding the business through uncertain times. We are confident that Martin will carry on this good work and assured through the open recruitment process that we have secured the best talent for the role.”

Adrian Maunders, said: –

“The decision to retire from English Rural was not an easy one to make. I have enjoyed my time leading this unique and dynamic housing association as it has delivered more affordable homes and services to rural communities. The appointment of Martin as my successor provides reassurance that the legacy and importantly our rural focus will be understood and grown even further.”

Martin Collett, said: –

“I am thrilled to have been chosen for this role, leading an organisation whose mission to help rural communities aligns with my own personal ambition. Having worked with the Board, Adrian, and the wider management team for some years already, I am aware of the exciting potential for English Rural as it looks to refresh its strategic ambitions. Adrian’s retirement marks another milestone in English Rural’s history, his tenure being one of growth and stability. As I step into the Chief Executive role I have every confidence that this success will continue.”

End

Notes to editors

• English Rural Housing Association is a Registered Social Landlord that was established in 1991 to provide affordable homes in small villages for local people.  Developments built by English Rural meet local needs and help to maintain sustainable rural communities. It owns and manages around 1250 affordable properties, spread amongst 150 villages, and has a development programme of around 200 additional homes. www.englishrural.org.uk
• The Rural Housing Alliance represents 40 housing associations working across England that collectively own and manage around 200,000 affordable homes in rural areas. Supported by the its partners the Rural Services Network and National Housing Federation, the Alliance looks to offer a single and united voice of support for affordable rural housing delivery and management. http://ruralhousingalliance.net/
• Martin Collett, Biography – Operations and Communications Director at English Rural Housing Association, a specialist affordable housing provider which owns and manages around 1,250 rural homes nationally.  Martin’s broad range of responsibilities include services delivered to residents and other partner rural housing associations. He also leads the organisations promotional activity and advocacy work.  He is one of the principal architects of the 5-star plan for rural housing, an ambition emerging from the National Housing Federation Influencing Academy, where Martin was the selected national rural lead.  He is also Chairman of the Rural Housing Alliance. Martin has a longstanding interest in the countryside, driven by his farming heritage and is a regular blogger and media contributor on rural issues.  A History and History of Art graduate and Corporate Member of the Chartered Institute of Housing. Up until 2018, Martin was a Trustee of Community Action Hampshire, he is a current Trustee of the Plunkett Foundation and is also an Ambassador for the LGBT youth homelessness charity The Albert Kennedy Trust.