Home Group executive hired as new boss of Edinburgh housing association

Edinburgh housing association Cairn has appointed an executive from Newcastle-based Home Group as its new chief executive to replace Jason MacGlip

Audrey Simpson, current Scotland Director for Newcastle-based Home Group, will take up the post in April. 

MacGlip has been 3,500-home Cairn’s CEO since 2011 and announced in October last year that it was time “for me to move on and for someone else to take up the leadership role”.

Simpson was previously chief executive of Glasgow-based Ardenglen Housing Association. Before this, she worked for 12 years at Queens Cross Housing Association, another housing provider in Glasgow.

Until then, Ken Tudhope, Cairn’s finance and people Services Director, will be the interim CEO.

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The Scottish Regulator of Social Housing is currently engaging with Cairn over its stock quality, tenant and resident safety and its proposed merger with 670-home Ancho.

A report from the regulator last March said that Cairn does not fully comply with the electrical safety requirements of the Scottish Housing Quality Standard.

It added that Cairn is currently progressing inspections to provide Electrical Installation Condition Reports (EICRs) in all of its tenants’ homes.

In 2018, North Ayrshire-based housing provider Ancho entered into a constitutional partnership with Cairn after 94% of tenants voted for the partnership.

Simpson said: “I am absolutely delighted to be joining Cairn, and looking forward to working with them as we embark on this next chapter. It is an exciting time in terms of shaping Cairn’s future, as we focus on developing a new Business Plan, to support Board and customer ambitions and aspirations. I take over an organisation that is in great shape, thanks to the fantastic work of Jason MacGilp.

She added: “I know how passionate the Board, the executive and all staff at Cairn are about delivering for its customers. That will remain a key focus for myself. I am moving on from Home Group, a fantastic organisation with brilliant people, where customers are central to everything we do. I wish my colleagues every success for the future.”

Angus Lamont, chair of Cairn’s board said: “Jason has been an excellent chief executive for Cairn and has made a very significant and positive impact during his time with the Association, and I and my Board Member colleagues will be very sorry to see him leave us.

”A great deal has been achieved for our customers and strengthening of the organisation during Jason’s tenure as our senior officer. This includes establishing the Group, with Ancho and Pentland Community Enterprises, and delivery of new homes and improved services and modernising the organisation. The Board has valued Jason’s committed service. We thank him for his leadership and wish him well for the future.”