Ian Ellis named as new chair of Notting Hill Genesis

Notting Hill Genesis has appointed property veteran Ian Ellis as its new chair.

Ellis (pictured) will take over the role at the housing association at the beginning of September, taking over from James Wardlaw who has had held the role in an interim capacity since the end of January after the previous chair Dipesh Shah stepped down.

The new chair acknowledged the housing association needed to improve its record on repairs and maintenance. The website Trustpilot gives the group one star out of a possible five for customer satisfaction.

Currently chairman of NHS Property Services, Ellis also chairs facilities management group Arcus and was chief executive and then executive chairman of Land Securities Trillium. And in the 1990s, Ian was an equity partner and head of investment management at Richard Ellis, now CBRE.

The housing association said it drew up a list of more than 100 candidates, with applicants coming from within and outside Notting Hill Genesis, whittling that number down to six before deciding Ellis was its man.

Two resident boards members were involved in the final decision, Notting Hill Genesis said, while a resident was also on the nominations committee that recommended Ellis’ appointment to the board.

Kate Davies, Notting Hill Genesis’ chief executive, said: “Our board was very impressed with Ian’s skills, experience and achievements, many of which are directly relevant to a modern housing association. He has enormous property experience particularly in vital areas such as repairs, maintenance and facilities management.

“He has been chief executive of several large companies and we are confident his knowledge and expertise will help us in our aim to be the best housing association in London.”

Ellis said there were “complex issues that we cannot shy away from, such as the need to improve our record on repairs and maintenance and to navigate a difficult political and economic environment, but I am very much looking forward to the challenges ahead and providing the best possible services to existing and future residents”.