Kevin Lowry has been appointed as the new chief executive for People 1st (Slough) and takes over from Andrew Billany, who has been appointed as director of housing and public protection at Newham Council in London.
Kevin will take up his new Slough post at the end of October and will bring a wide range of substantial experience as chief executive and senior manager of stock transfer, housing associations and arm’s length management organisations (ALMO).
He said: “I’m delighted to be joining People 1st (Slough). The Board has outlined an ambitious programme of continuous improvement for the year ahead, so it’s a time of challenge and opportunity.
“I’m looking forward to working with staff and meeting tenants and leaseholders to start building on the successes achieved to date.”
Kevin’s arrival comes at a time of considerable change with the People 1st (Slough) Board electing Nigel Bailey as its new Chair earlier this month. The new team will be anxious to build on the achievements the organisation has accomplished in its first four years.
Commissioner for neighbourhoods and renewal, Cllr James Swindlehurst, added: “I’m pleased to congratulate the new chair and chief executive of People 1st (Slough) on their appointments, and look forward to working with the new leadership to step up improvements to housing in the borough."
People 1st (Slough) became a two star ALMO – the second highest rating out of three – in January, 2008, following an inspection by the Audit Commission. This achievement enabled the Decent Homes Improvements project to be accelerated, bringing the borough’s social housing stock up to the government’s decency standard.
When the programme is completed in 2011, £73.4m will have been spent on providing improvements, including new kitchens, bathrooms, central heating and rewiring.
Slough Borough Council
