Wanted: chief snake-herder

However, housing association veterans up and down England will acknowledge that the 1400-odd snakes in the NHF’s herd have pretty much remained in the bag thanks to Coulter. So when he finally steps down in the aftermath of the annual Harrogate bash this summer, what will happen to the organisation he leaves behind?

There are two main options open to Richard Clark, the federation’s chairman, as he prepares to interview the shortlisted candidates on Wednesday. First, he could appoint a respected figure from within the sector who will be able to pick up pretty much where Coulter leaves off. This would avoid NHF members decrying his chosen appointment with predictable gripes of “who? what do they know about housing?”. It would also mean that the new boss would be familiar with the change agenda that the federation has been pursuing through its In Business for Neighbourhoods campaign and would greatly reduce the risk of associations breaking away from the federation – for instance, the G15 in London.

However, the downside is that the new boss would struggle too much in Coulter’s shadow and perhaps not be regarded as a leader in their own right. Also, given that many of the bright young chief executives have declined the invitation to go for the hot seat, the choice is limited mainly to older candidates who might only fancy the job on a short-term basis.

An outsider would bring a fresh perspective and help the NHF be more outward-looking

The second and more radical option would be to recruit someone from outside the sector. As we report on page 8, they may come from another trade body or from another position within the wider not-for-profit sector. This would have the obvious drawbacks outlined above, but would open the door to many talented and experienced operators. Above all, this would bring a completely fresh perspective and help the federation to become more outward looking after years of examining itself and its members.

If the Federation is to continue to grow as a modern trade body and justify its flash new London HQ it should relish the opportunity to make a brave decision. Clark may feel that his hand is forced by a lack of suitable candidates from within the sector, but perhaps this should be seen as a blessing in disguise. People can’t so easily criticise an appointment if they haven’t put themselves forward as an alternative. Anyway, recent appointments to the King’s Fund (journalist Niall Dickson) or even to the Housing Corporation (Jon Rouse) prove that taking risks can bring big rewards. They can also backfire, but if the federation is to become the modern lobbying body its members need, Clark has to be bold.