Meet our new Board Chair: Colin Dennis

Following a thorough recruitment process, we have appointed a new Chair to lead our Board.

Colin Dennis will take over the reins from outgoing Chair Robin Bailey at a Board meeting set to take place at the end of March.

Robin Bailey is stepping down as Board Chair following the successful completion of a three-year term. Robin had served as Chair of GreenSquare prior to the merger which created GSA having been on our Board since May 2017.

With decades of experience of working within the financial sector to lead culture change and business units alongside a nine-year stint as Board chair of fellow housing association Citizen, Colin brings a wealth of knowledge to his new role.

Previously Colin has also taken on several non-executive director and Chair roles, predominantly in the social housing and health sectors, and has a track record of helping to strengthen financial and operational performance to benefit service users.

Commenting on his appointment, Colin said: “I was familiar with GSA through my time at Citizen and work with the Matrix Housing Partnership. So, when I saw the advert for Board Chair I simply had to apply - it was too good an opportunity to miss.

“With a chronic shortage of social homes, the cost-of-living crisis and an ageing population the challenges that GSA and our sector faces are great. But this brings home to us our social purpose and with determined colleagues we can contribute towards addressing the housing and social care need within the Midlands and South West.

“I am delighted to take on the role of Board Chair and look forward to meeting colleagues across our organisation as I get to know GSA better in the coming months. I welcome the opportunity to be part of our journey towards becoming a truly great social landlord.”

Colin will soon start his initial three-year term as Board Chair leading our Board’s oversight of the organisation, working with our Chief Executive and wider Executive Management Team to deliver first class services to our customers.

Our Chief Executive Ruth Cooke said: “Colin joins us as Board Chair at a very exciting time. Following our recent in-depth assessment and upgrade to G1 by the Regulator for Social Housing, we are focussed on delivering our ambitious new Simpler, Stronger, Better five-year strategy.

“I am looking forward to working closely with Colin, the wider Board and our Executive Team to ensure the successful delivery of the strategy, which will see a transformational change in the level of investment in our homes and services.”

Find out more about our Board here.