Governance shake-up will see two tenant board members join board of 47,000-home organisation early next year

Orbit has announced the appointment of Stephen Jack as its new chair as it makes changes to its governance structure aimed at improving its ‘customer experience’.

Stephen Jack Chair of Orbit Group (002)

Stephen Jack will become chair of Orbit Group in the new year

Jack, an experienced finance director, will take on the new role in the new year, succeeding David Weaver who has served the maximum term allowed under Orbit’s governance rules.

Jack has had a 30-year executive career as a finance director and chief financial officer and has board and governance experience across the public, private voluntary sectors. He has previously served as vice-chair of Anchor Hanover, chair of Octavia and board member at Golden Lane Housing.

He chaired the Independent Living Fund – a former public body that supported disabled people with high support needs - and is a trustee of Royal Mencap Society. In 2014 Jack received an OBE for services to disabled people.

The appointment comes as Orbit makes changes to its governance structure to help it deliver on itsambition to “provide amongst the best customer experience of any housing associationin the country”.

>>See also:‘Customer obsessed’: Yorkshire Housing boss Nick Atkin on using data and tech to improve housing and tenancy management

>>See also:It’s time to make sure Every Person Counts in housing 

The group is in the process of appointing two residents to its board. It is combining the boards of its housing association subsidiary with the overall Orbit Group board to create one board to oversee all aspects of its operational and strategic direction.

It will also put in place a new committee structure, including the creation of a new Customer and Service Delivery Committee, to support group board decision-making.

Phil Andrew, chief executive at Orbit Group, said: “These are important changes that will help embed our 2030 Strategy in everything we do, and I’d like to thank David for his support and counsel throughout this process and throughout my time at Orbit.

“David will be sorely missed; however he couldn’t be handing the baton over to anyone better. Stephen’s passion for purpose and equity very much chimes with that of my own, and I’m looking forward to working closely with him in his role of chair.”