Plymouth Community Homes (PCH) has appointed Mike Kirk as the new Chair of its Board, bringing a wealth of experience from across the housing, financial, utilities and communications sectors.
Mike succeeds Valerie Lee, who has stepped down following the completion of her term as Chair. His appointment comes at a significant time for PCH, following the launch of the organisation's ambitious new 10-Year Business Plan and the securing of £250 million of Strategic Partner funding from Homes England to support the delivery of 1,500 affordable homes across Devon and Cornwall.
Mike has a strong track record within the housing sector, having previously served as Chair of VIVID following the merger of First Wessex and Sentinel Housing Associations. He is also Chair of Hyde Housing Group, one of the UK's largest housing associations, which currently holds regulatory gradings of G1 for governance, V2 for financial viability and C1 for the consumer standard.
His wider experience includes senior leadership roles across regulated industries, financial services, communications and charitable organisations. He is currently a trustee of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust and a non-executive director of Housing Diversity Network.
As Chair, Mike will lead the PCH Board in supporting delivery of the organisation's long-term ambitions, including investing £1.2 billion in homes, communities and services over the next decade, strengthening resident influence and helping address affordable housing need across the South West.
Mike Kirk, Chair of the Board at Plymouth Community Homes, said:
“I’m delighted to be joining PCH and I’m looking forward to getting out and about, meeting residents and hearing directly about their experiences of their homes, neighbourhoods and services.
“The Board has an important role in making sure PCH is well run, makes good decisions and stays focused on what matters most to residents. I want to help make our work more visible and accessible, explain clearly what we do and create more opportunities for residents to understand and influence the decisions we make.
“I’m joining PCH at an exciting time, but my first priority is simple: to listen, learn and get to know the people and communities we are here to serve.
“Ultimately I want to make sure PCH is always shaped around residents, ensuring our services are co-designed with them and are of a consistent high-quality.”
Jonathan Cowie, Chief Executive of Plymouth Community Homes, said:
"We are delighted to welcome Mike to PCH.
"He brings significant experience, insight and leadership from both within and beyond the housing sector. His appointment comes at an important time for PCH as we begin delivering our new Business Plan and continue investing in homes and communities across Plymouth and the wider South West.
"I would also like to thank Valerie Lee for her dedication, leadership and support during her time as Chair. She has made a significant contribution to PCH and leaves a strong platform for the future."
Over the coming months, Mike will be getting out and about to meet residents, colleagues and partners and learn more about PCH's homes and communities. Residents will also be able to hear more from Mike in the next edition of the ‘InTouch’ newsletter, where he'll talk about his background, what the Board does and his priorities as PCH's new Chair.
