Ahmed will leave his post at L&Q by next April after a career spanning three decades
Waqar Ahmed has announced that he will resign from his role as L&Q’s group finance director by the end of the financial year, following more than 16 years in the position.
After stepping down from the group finance director role, Ahmed will remain with L&Q in an advisory capacity, working on projects aimed at identifying opportunities to boost investment in affordable housing.
Ahmed began his career at L&Q as a finance manager in 1997. He was promoted to director of treasury and investment in 2005, before becoming group finance director in 2008.
He joined homelessness charity Crisis’s board as a trustee last year and also sits on the board of the National Housing Federation.
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The housing association, which now owns 105,000 homes, said Ahmed has made a “major contribution” he has made to its growth, helping it become one of the largest developers and providers of social and affordable housing in the country.
L&Q said Ahmed has been “at the forefront of social housing finance” for the past 27 years and is widely acknowledged as one of the sector’s most ambitious financial strategists.
L&Q has said its search for Ahmed’s successor will begin immediately.
Waqar said: “It has been a great privilege to spend three decades working for an organisation that has always had social purpose at its heart, and puts residents and communities first.
“I have worked with incredible people over the years, and I know the current team has the talent, ambition and determination to drive L&Q forward and grapple the housing crisis head on. I shall be watching their continued progress with pride, and wish them every success as L&Q continues to use its financial strength to tackle the challenges and grasp the opportunities ahead.”
L&Q’s chief executive, Fiona Fletcher-Smith said: “Waqar has always cared deeply about social housing, and over the past 27 years he has made an immeasurable contribution to the sector. Most people will know him as L&Q’s financial figurehead, but he has always been happy to share his time and expertise with other like-minded organisations, as demonstrated by his board roles with Crisis and the National Housing Federation.”
“He has been central to the growth of L&Q over the past three decades, and his legacy can be seen in both the organisation that we are today, and the formidable finance team he has led and nurtured which will now take forward his work. Everyone at L&Q wishes him the very best for his next chapter.”
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