Brian Gannon has announced he will be stepping down as chief executive of the Glasgow-based housing association in spring 2025
Brian Gannon, chief executive of West of Scotland Housing Association (WSHA), has announced his decision to step down and retire in spring 2025.
Before becoming chief executive of WSHA in 2019, Gannon was head of housing and community regeneration at Thenue Housing Association, another Glasgow-based social landlord. He spent nearly 20 years at Thenue, joining in 1998.
During his time at WSHA, Gannon led the organisation through a merger with Charing Cross Housing in 2022, which included the transfer of 500 tenancies to WSHA.
WSHA now owns around 4,200 homes across the west of Scotland.
Under his leadership, the association also launched Glasgow’s largest Passivhaus social housing development, located in Dundashill.
He also established Westscot Living, a subsidiary responsible for overseeing factoring services and managing the association’s first mid-market rent homes.
Gannon said that his decision to step down “hasn’t been an easy decision for me to make, as I love my job and the difference we make to the lives of the people in our communities.”
He added that he is proud his successor will inherit “a very strong and ambitious organisation with excellent relationships with all our key stakeholders.”
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He continued: “Although I’m very much looking forward to the next phase in my life, I will miss the fantastic Board members and colleagues at WSHA and want to thank them for the strong support I have received throughout my time at the association.”
Kelly Adams, chair of the WSHA Board, said: “On behalf of WSHA and its Board I would like to take this opportunity to thank Brian for the hard work and commitment he has given to WSHA since joining us.”
“With over 30 years of service in the housing sector he has brought a wide range of skills and experience to help shape WSHA and its future plans and has achieved an incredible amount in his five years with us. We wish him the very best for his retirement.”
Earlier this month, the SNP’s John Swinney set out his first programme for government as first minister after taking over from Humza Yousaf in May.
Swinney said the government remains committed to investing nearly £600m in affordable housing, with £40m allocated for turning existing homes into affordable housing.
In February, the Scottish government passed its 2024/25 budget, which saw funding for affordable housing supply cut from £752m to £556m.
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