Two new Board members join us today
We’re delighted to announce that John Creswell and Sharon Thompson join our GreenSquareAccord Board from today (Wednesday 1 March).
John is an experienced non-executive director with extensive knowledge of the issues facing complex customer facing organisations. He brings in-depth experience of housing, and community regeneration gained through his executive roles and from having advised Local Authority bodies, Government Agencies and Charitable Trusts as a consultant.
John has served on the Whitefriars Housing Group Board, been Chair of West Mercia Homes, and Senior Independent Director and Chair of Remunerations Committee on the Citizen Housing Board.
Now retired from employed roles John is passionate about pursuing opportunities to transform lives through mission driven organisations. As well as sitting on our Board, John will also be joining our Homes and Customer Experience Committee.
John says: “I’m delighted to join the Board at GreenSquareAccord. I’m really looking forward to working with another progressive housing association who is willing to invest in the homes it provides at a time of many challenges in the sector and for our customers.
“I hope my extensive sector and governance experience, together with my recent experience of supporting an Executive Team to implement transformational changes and service improvements can really help GreenSquareAccord.
“I’m really looking forward to getting to know the other board members and colleagues.”
Sharon started her career in housing management before moving into community development. She was elected to serve as a Birmingham Councillor in 2014 and in 2018 she was appointed Cabinet Member for Homes and Neighbourhoods. Her current portfolio includes housing, homelessness and major sporting events.
Sharon has served on several boards including being Chair of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Homelessness Taskforce Members Advisory Group and a member of the Euro Cities Social Affairs Committee.
Sharon says: “It’s a really exciting time to join GreenSquareAccord. I’m really passionate about housing and I’ve previously influenced national housing policy considerations.
“Having lived in social and private housing myself, I consider myself an expert by experience. I’m always keen to find ways to incorporate the customer experience into housing policy and I really hope I can make a difference at GreenSquareAccord.”
Our Chief Executive Ruth Cooke says: “It’s great to welcome both John and Sharon to our Board today.
“The Board oversees the strategy and direction of our organisation.
“They help set our overall strategy, whilst monitoring our performance, service delivery and financial viability. I’m really looking forward to working closely with both John and Sharon.”
