The chief executive of Ujima housing association has unexpectedly resigned after just six months in the job.
The leading black and minority-ethnic housing association said the shock departure of Hassett Auguste, who took up the post in September 2002, was prompted by personal circumstances.

Auguste is on annual leave and will depart in April. Housing Today was unable to contact him. Deputy chief executive Ponniah Rasanesan will take over for a year to maintain continuity.

But the chief executive's position will be advertised in about nine months' time and the association expects to recruit someone shortly after that.

Auguste's departure has fuelled speculation of a personality clash between him and others at the association.

One source said a number of people within Ujima were unhappy at Auguste's appointment and had been "getting their teeth into him" from the moment he started.

Another source said he was "gobsmacked" and described the move to have an interim chief executive for a year as "unusual".

The timing is unfortunate for Ujima as it is again among the top 10 associations in the Housing Corporation's approved development programme.

Two years ago it was the first black and minority-ethnic organisation to top the Housing Corporation's ADP grant allocation with a grant of £39.1m.

Amid speculation that the latest allocation could be threatened by the departure, the Housing Corporation refused to comment on whether it would examine the impact on Ujima's forthcoming development programme.

Auguste joined Ujima from Redbridge Council, where he spent 10 years, starting as a housing officer and working his way up to chief housing officer.

Source

Housing Today