Sage Homes appoints recent Countryside boss as COO

Blackstone-owned ‘for profit’ landlord Sage Homes has appointed former Countryside boss Iain McPherson as its chief operating officer. 

He will start at Sage Homes on Monday 17 October. 

McPherson left Countryside suddenly in January this year after just two years in the role.

His departure came as the firm said its first quarter performance was “below expectations” as its adjusting profit more than halved and completions dropped by a third.

McPherson was at Countryside for more than seven years, serving as chief executive of the firms Partnership South business and before that as managing director. He is credited with leading a restructuirng programme that allowed the group to double home completions over four years.

He also previously held senior positions at Crest Nicholson, housing association Hyde Group and at the Housing Corporation, formerly the regulator and funder of affordable housing providers.

He said: “I am very happy to be returning to affordable housing and to be part of such an innovative and fast-growing business such as Sage Homes.” 

Sage Homes was set up in 2017 by Regis and Blackstone as a ’for-profit provider of social housing. Last month Sage Homes revealed it had delivered 3,287 affordable homes in 2021, up more than 50% on the number built in the covid-hit 2020 year.

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It says that to date it has delivered more than 9,500 homes for affordable rent, shared ownership and social rent and is aiming to deliver 30,000 by 2030.

McPherson is also non-executive director of Town & Country Housing and Monson Homes, part of the Peabody Group. 

Mark Sater, chief executive of Sage Homes, said: “The appointment of a new chief operating officer reflects Sage Homes maturing as an organisation that is leading the sector in the delivery of newly built affordable homes. 2021 was a standout year for Sage Homes with the company almost doubling in output and size and 2022 is following a similar path.”