Abri recruits former L&Q boss Montague to its board

Housing association Abri has appointed former L&Q chief executive David Montague to its board.

The 40,000-home provider announced that Montague will be joining as a non-executive director as it seeks to ramp up development to build 12,500 homes by 2030.

Montague stood down from L&Q in January last year after more than 30 years at the housing association, including 12 years as chief executive.

Montague led the London-based association through mergers and partnerships, increasing L&Q’s stock to 110,000 homes.

Montague said: “I’m delighted to be joining Abri’s Board. It’s an organisation I know well and respect for its ambitious and progressive strategy I’m looking forward to helping Abri navigate an increasingly challenging environment whilst delivering its bold ambitions.”

The board membership of Abri is one of several non-executive roles Montague has taken up since leaving L&Q. He also chairs housebuilder Joseph Homes, and is on the board of bond aggregator the Housing Finance Corporation, developer Hadley Property Group and part-buy part-rent specialist Heylo.

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Abri also announced the appointment of broadcast journalist and entrepreneur Veronica Gordon to its board. Gordon founded Our Version Media, an organisation that seeks to increase positive and authentic representation of Black and marginalised communities.

In 2020/21 Abri, which operates across southern England, completed 801 homes in a year disrupted by the pandemic. It said in its accounts last year that it is planning 1,333 homes in the current financial year and is seeking to build 12,500 between 2020 and 2030.