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Association appoints former cathedral executive as new chair
North East social housing provider Bernicia has appointed the former head of property of Durham Cathedral as its new chair.
John Holmes joined the company’s board last year, and will help Bernicia with plans to launch a £190m investment programme over the next five years.
He has a number of years of experience in the property sector, and is currently operations director at Kielder Observatory, having previously worked for the cathedral. Before that, he was chief executive of economic development organisation Hull Forward.
He takes over the position of chair from Bill Worth and is also joined by three new board members, former Bond Dickinson partner Claire-Jane Rewcastle, Avril Gibson, former Northern Learning Trust chief executive and Marie Roe, director of business and development at Gateshead Housing Company.
Bernicia employs 550 staff across four sites in the North East, with a £70m annual turnover.
It plans to pump £190m into building at least 500 new homes by 2023, alongside investing in its 14,000 existing properties and the wider community.
Mr Holmes said: “I am delighted to be taking over as Bernicia chair at this exciting time, delivering an ambitious development and growth programme, whilst maintaining a quality service for all of our customers and the wider community.”
