Mahua Chatterjee takes a look at who’s been on the move this week
Matthew Baxter
Builder Connaught has appointed Matthew Baxter as regional partnering manager. Baxter has more than eight years of housing association experience. For the past two years he has worked for West Wiltshire Housing Society.

Monica Shafaq
Accord Housing Association has appointed Monica Shafaq as its new housing services manager. Shafaq previously worked at Asra Midlands Housing Association as a regional housing manager.

Signpost Housing Association
Phil Baker, Chris George and Martyn Revell have joined Signpost Housing Association. Baker joins as a community and tenant initiative officer. He previously worked for investment bank Credit Suisse. George, who was previously Gosport borough council’s head of operational services, will have overall responsibility for property services. Revell, who joins from Parkside Housing Group, will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the association’s building surveyors and trade workforce.

Jonathan Higgs
Jonathan Higgs is the new chief executive of Oxford Citizens Housing Association, following the departure of David Ashmore. Higgs was formerly deputy chief executive and development director of Gloucester Housing Association.

Mary Coburn
Mary Coburn (left) has been named chief executive of New Downlnd Housing Association. She was formerly housing director and will take up her role when Bob Herbert, current chief executive and managing director, retires in March.

Job of the week

Name
Mike Crawshaw
New job
Community initiatives manager at Cheshire-based registered social landlord Dane Housing
Job specification
“To lead on new corporate and community initiatives and to bring added value to tenants and Dane Housing itself.”
Old job
Community regeneration officer, West Pennine Housing Association
First housing job
Travellers’ liaison officer at the London borough of Brent
How did you get there?
“I started off as a social worker for a high-support housing trust and gradually moved toward a more specific housing role.”
Any advice for people moving into the sector?
“Get involved in the community development side of things. here is plenty of scope for imagination and innovation.”
Most memorable incident at work
“I was in the cellars of Alexandra Palace when it caught fire in 1981 – the biggest fire in London since the Blitz. I only just got out.”
Favourite book
“Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S Thompson.”
Favourite TV programme
“The Simpsons. Homer is the greatest contemporary US philosopher.”
Who would you most like to interview – and what would you ask?
“US president George W Bush. I’d ask what he thinks he is going to do about the US economy once his proposed little war is over and the electorate starts to realise that it was just a diversion.”
Dream job
“Testing horses’ stamina on very long beach rides, but I don’t suppose anyone will ever pay me for it.”

Source

Housing Today