Our leadership team
Our Executive Team
Mark Gifford - Chief Executive
Our Chief Executive, Mark Gifford, has many successful years of senior leadership experience in both the public and private sector and demonstrates an unwavering commitment to serving society and customer-focused services.
His extensive experience includes being CEO of the National Citizen Service – a royal charter body offering programmes for young people to help them build confidence, life skills and stronger communities.
Before that he spent 23 years with the John Lewis Partnership in a variety of senior leadership roles, including leading all the Waitrose supermarkets.
Mark is also a non-executive director of Manchester University Foundation Hospital Trust and a School Academy Director. This role had given him insight into the direct link between good quality housing, academic outcomes and stronger communities.
Andy Ewart - Executive Director of Corporate Services
Our Executive Director of Corporate Services, Andy Ewart, is a qualified chartered accountant with an MBA from Manchester Business School who began his career in the financial services sector before progressing to senior roles within the higher education and not-for-profit sectors.
Andy has worked for FCHO since 2019 and holds strategic responsibility for our financial viability and is the Deputy CEO. Andy leads FCHO’s colleagues and resources associated with Finance, ICT, Governance, Risk and Assurance, People and Culture, Marketing and Communications and Transformation, ensuring the organisation is on a firm financial and compliant footing.
Steve Agger - Executive Director of Homes
Our Executive Director of Homes, Steve Agger, leads on the care and maintenance of our existing homes, and the development of much-needed new properties in the Oldham borough.
Steve brings a significant amount of experience in the management of homes and their condition, having spent his career working in the public and private sectors, including roles in local government and consultancy.
He is passionate about the quality of our housing maintenance services and the standard of new-build homes, and putting FCHO customers at the centre of what we do.
Jayne Lawson - Executive Director of Customer Experience
Leading our Customer Experience Strategy, Jayne has extensive experience within the housing sector since she started out as a housing officer at aged just 16.
Jayne brings a wealth of experience form her previous roles in anti-social behaviour, income and financial inclusion. Her strengths lie in connecting with people, problem solving and innovation to provide excellent customer and colleague experience.
Our Directors
Juliet Craven
Director of Governance, Risk and Assurance
Our Director of Governance, Risk and Assurance, Juliet Craven, has over 35 years’ experience in the housing sector, including working for various housing associations for the last 18 year...
Our Director of Governance, Risk and Assurance, Juliet Craven, has over 35 years’ experience in the housing sector, including working for various housing associations for the last 18 years.
Juliet is responsible for overseeing FCHO’s Legal Services and Assurance teams. Her background includes corporate and Board governance, risk, internal audit as well as reputation and quality assurance.
She is FCHO’s Company Secretary, supporting the Board and overseeing compliance with the Regulator of Social Housing’s expectations.
Maria Cook
Director of Finance
Our Director of Finance, Maria Cook, has been with FCHO since 2011 and has most recently been our Head of Finance. Maria provides financial leadership, continuity and consistency for the...
Our Director of Finance, Maria Cook, has been with FCHO since 2011 and has most recently been our Head of Finance.
Maria provides financial leadership, continuity and consistency for the business as we keep on delivering our Big Plan priorities.
Bharat Velji
Director of Digital & Technology
As our Director of Digital and Technology, Bharat is leading the development and execution of our ICT and Digital Strategy and managing the organisation’s systems and technology operation...
As our Director of Digital and Technology, Bharat is leading the development and execution of our ICT and Digital Strategy and managing the organisation’s systems and technology operations.
He has worked for FCHO for over ten years and has been our Head of ICT between 2022 and 2024. He has a wealth of experience in IT infrastructure, cyber security, disaster recovery, systems and IT operations.
Bharat has led many technology enhancements and transformations to keep the organisation at the forefront of technology and market trends.
Kat Kitchener
Director of Development and Asset Strategy
With the responsibility for Development Health, Safety, Building Compliance and Investment Strategy, Kat has a broad experience in housing. Her career in housing spans across 17 years and...
With the responsibility for Development Health, Safety, Building Compliance and Investment Strategy, Kat has a broad experience in housing. Her career in housing spans across 17 years and she has held many senior development leadership roles in several housing associations and in the private sector.
Laura Branthwaite
Director of Asset Investment Delivery
Leading our Property Care, Neighbourhood Care and Asset Investment Delivery services. Laura has been in the housing and public sector for 15 years with senior roles working within asset m...
Leading our Property Care, Neighbourhood Care and Asset Investment Delivery services. Laura has been in the housing and public sector for 15 years with senior roles working within asset management and estate services. She enjoys traveling and spending time with her family.
Neil Pollitt
Director of Strategy and Insight
Neil is a qualified chartered accountant, with over 20 years post qualified experience. He has worked in the banking sector for around 20 years before moving into housing sector around 8...
Neil is a qualified chartered accountant, with over 20 years post qualified experience. He has worked in the banking sector for around 20 years before moving into housing sector around 8 years ago. He has a wealth of experience in developing strategy and leading insight & analytical teams to improve business performance. He is passionate about the social housing sector and has held voluntary positions as Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee. He has responsibility for leading on the development of FCHO Strategy, Performance Reporting, Insight and Regulatory reporting.
Sarah Aldred
Director of Customer Experience
Sarah is responsible for driving excellent customer experience as we deliver great services to our customers and communities. She lives in Greater Manchester and has spent more than 25 ye...
Sarah is responsible for driving excellent customer experience as we deliver great services to our customers and communities.
She lives in Greater Manchester and has spent more than 25 years working in the housing sector, including 12 years in leadership roles at FCHO.
Sarah is focused on deliver customer-centric services which help us achieve our mission through every interaction.
Justine Waddington
Director of People and Culture
Justine is responsible for delivering and developing our people strategy, helping us to realise the potential of our brilliant colleagues, create a strong performance culture which puts c...
Justine is responsible for delivering and developing our people strategy, helping us to realise the potential of our brilliant colleagues, create a strong performance culture which puts customers at its heart and supports us to achieve our Great Company ambitions.
Justine brings more than 20 years’ experience in both housing and human resources, joining our team in 2021 as head of people.
Jayne Lawson
Executive Director of Customer Experience
Leading our Customer Experience Strategy, Jayne has extensive experience within the housing sector since she started out as a housing officer at aged just 16. Jayne brings a wealth of exp...
Leading our Customer Experience Strategy, Jayne has extensive experience within the housing sector since she started out as a housing officer at aged just 16.
Jayne brings a wealth of experience form her previous roles in anti-social behaviour, income and financial inclusion. Her strengths lie in connecting with people, problem solving and innovation to provide excellent customer and colleague experience.