Meet the team

Directors

Kate Smith

Chief Executive

Kate has a wealth of experience gained from 15 years at executive level in the social housing sector, with organisations of scale, complexity and ambition. Before joining Connexus Kate worked for national housing and care provider Anchor, where she was group executive director of business services for five years.

Andrew Cooke

Director of Resources

Andrew brings with him vast previous experience within the sector, including being the Executive Director of a midlands based housing, care and support organisation.

Sara Woodall

Director of Customer Experience

Sara is a highly-motivated, dedicated and experienced customer service, repairs & maintenance, housing, asset management and community engagement professional with a track record of delivering excellent services. Sara has worked in the housing and social care sector for more than 30 years with almost 22 years skills, knowledge and experience at Director level including more than four years at CEO level within a complex Group structure.

She has managed and motivated teams in all disciplines: across housing management, customer care, customer engagement, asset management, DLO’s & repairs, community development, care & support services and health & well-being.

Fleur Whittingham

Director of Property

Fleur is passionate about social housing, with a particular focus on ensuring customers are safe and feel safe in their homes. In a career spanning 20 years in housing, she is proud to have worked with colleagues and organisations across the sector, to collectively drive-up safety standards. Fleur has been instrumental in driving up safety standards across the industry.

Fleur is leading the transformation of services through innovation and the integration of new technologies, Fleur is committed to enhancing the customer journey and ensuring that individuals feel safe and supported in their homes.

Our Board Members

Michele Ibbs

Chair

Michele Ibbs has a background in commercial marketing and is an experienced non-executive director having held positions at The Marsden Building Society, The Ombudsman Service Limited, and the Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

As chair, Michele is responsible for the leadership of the board and committees as well as working with senior executive and management teams to determine the organisation's corporate priorities.

Andrew Taylor

Chair of Audit & Risk Committee

Andrew operates as an independent consultant primarily specialising in the Social Housing sector. He is a qualified member of The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA), with significant experience in all areas of risk, corporate governance, and stakeholder management. Andrew has experience in compliance controls, In-Depth Audit (IDA) preparation and key issues of relevance from a regulatory standpoint.

Andrew Battrum

Board Member

Andrew was the Finance Director of Bromford Housing Group for 17 years before retiring in 2016. In addition to his financial management and treasury expertise, he brings strong analytical skills and an ability to move easily between bigger picture and detailed thinking. He has experienced different ways of working at Bromford, which has broadened his thinking both in terms of organisational and Board operations.

Paul Smith

Board Member

Paul is the Chief Executive of Elim Housing Group and a member of the Advisory Panel for the Housing Ombudsman. Paul has also served as the Chief Executive of two national charities, the Furniture Re-use Network and Housing Potential (the skills agency for housing).

Maggie Punyer

Board Member

As a lead Director with Ocean Media, Maggie has a good grasp of the key issues affecting the sector. She has gained further insight through many governance roles, notably in her current capacity as a Non-Executive Director on the Board of Accent. With a good appreciation of regulation, risk, culture and governance control, Maggie also has a commercial background providing the strategic leadership needed at a governance level by Connexus.

Simon Ewins

Board Member

Simon’s current role as Managing Director of Hotels & Restaurants at Whitbread Plc includes operational responsibilities for over £2bn annual turnover. Simon’s many business strengths include a proven ability to lead the management of organisational growth ambitions. His life experiences, combined with family ties to Shropshire and Herefordshire, have given Simon a real passion for joining us on the Connexus journey.

Abigail Reilly

Board Member

AAbigail comes from a military background and has 15 years’ experience at senior management level within Social Housing, including three years as Executive Director responsible for a wide portfolio including Organisational Development and Corporate Strategy, Performance and Planning.

Nicola de Iongh

Senior Independent Director & BM

Nicola serves as the Chair of Council at the University of Gloucestershire, a Trustee with Gloucestershire Counselling Service and Chair Designate for the Premier Miton Ethical Investment Fund reference committee. In her executive life, Nicola has a track record of delivering transformation and defining future vision, with a wealth of experience in management consulting and change management.

Imran Patel

Board Member

Imran is an experienced director in the telecoms sector with extensive experience driving results in large scale leadership roles, with a track record improving customer
experience and increasing employee engagement. He has experience in collaborating with executives to successfully lead strategic change initiatives and new business ventures.

Simon Gibbs

Board Member

Simon has over 25 years of Board experience as a CEO/MD of both public and private companies across several sectors including property, retail, and media. He is a Chartered Accountant and has in-depth experience of treasury management and property development. Simon brings to Connexus a blend of commercial expertise within the housebuilding sector and an understanding of the social housing sector.