GHA appoints chief executive

Mr Armstrong has been covering the top job at Glasgow Housing Association since October after Taroub Zahran announced in August she was leaving.

The 44-year-old new chief of GHA said: ‘It is an honour to be given the opportunity to serve GHA tenants and factored homeowners as chief executive.

‘I am absolutely determined, as are my colleagues throughout this organisation, to create better homes, better communities and, ultimately, better lives for the people we serve.’

GHA tenant chair Sandra Forsythe, announcing the new appointment today, said: ‘It is no exaggeration to say this position attracted a very high-calibre range of candidates from across the UK.

‘I am delighted to confirm Martin was the unanimous choice of the GHA board as the person best suited to lead us through this next, very important phase in our history.’

He greatly improved the quality and range of services provided to GHA customers in his previous role, she added.

Mr Armstrong joined GHA in January 2008 as executive director of housing and customer services.

He took over from Ms Zahran, whose resignation was one in a line of high-profile departures and came after a report from the Scottish Housing Regulator criticised the association in June for not setting ‘a clear purpose and direction’.

Long-serving vice chair Fred Shedden’s resignation was announced on the same day as Ms Zahran’s. This was two weeks after Donna Stevenson, executive director of strategic services, announced she was leaving her post after five years.

She followed the landlord’s finance director, Robert Flanagan, who quit after less than two years in his job.

During an 18-year career in housing, Mr Armstrong has worked for local authorities across the UK, from Surrey in southern England to Moray council in the north of Scotland.

Before joining GHA he was director of customer and support services at West Lothian council.

Have your say

You must sign in to make a comment