Management
East Midlands Housing Group is managed by the Executive Management Team (pictured below). The team work closely with the Board to ensure customers and partners receive the very best service.
From left to right:
Jim Patman, Group Development Director: Jim has worked for EMH since 1998 and became Development Director in July 1999. Working in Development since 1981 for three other Registered Social Landlords, he also has a BA in Sociology from Warwick University. At 54 years young, he has been married for nearly 30 years and has 4 children. Jim’s hobbies - well there had to be one somewhere – a football fanatic. For over 20 years he has played and organised five-a-side matches. He supports Manchester United. Off the pitch, the fitness theme continues, with jogging, hill walking, and the more sedate art of fishing! Enjoying village life he has “done time” on most of the village committees.
Craig Felts, Managing Director of Midlands Rural Housing: Craig was appointed Director of Midlands Rural Housing (a subsidiary of EMH) in January 2005. He was previously the Deputy Director holding this position since its formation in 1997. Craig’s background is with the Housing Corporation in the East Midlands and he has also worked for the Rural Housing Trust. Currently Craig is Chairman of the “Sustainable Communities” Sub-Group of the East Midlands Rural Affairs Forum, which is responsible for the development of the housing element of the Regional Rural Action Plan. He also acts as Company Secretary to Northamptonshire, Warwickshire and Leicestershire Rural Housing Associations. Craig says his outside interests continue the rural theme - he is a keen angler and enjoys cycling and walking.
Nikki Chawda, Managing Director of Foundation Housing Association: Nikki joined as Operations Manager at Foundation Housing Association (a subsidiary of EMHG) in January 2006. Before this she was an Audit Commission inspector for the Housing Inspectorate in the East Midlands over 5 years, which involved inspecting housing associations, local authorities, ALMOs and Supporting People authorities. Indeed, back in 2002, Nikki inspected EMHA. Nikki also worked at Leicester Housing Association over 22 years in roles ranging from maintenance, supported housing, development, finance, and heading up a team delivering generic housing services across the East of Leicester City and County. Nikki has a busy family life, and enjoys gardening, watching Bollywood movies, travelling, and cooking. She speaks fluent Gujerati, Hindi, Punjabi and some Swahili. Nikki was a finalist in the national Asian Women of Achievement Awards 2010 in the Public Sector Category, ‘I adore working in housing as we change lives every day’ says Nikki.
Bruce Kerr, Managing Director for Three Oaks Homes: Bruce joined TOH in August 2008, a couple of months before it took stock transfer from Blaby District Council. A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Housing, he now has over 30 years experience in the sector, including a 3 year spell as a Senior Consultant at CSL Ltd, and senior management roles in Development, Supported Housing and Housing Management, latterly for London & Quadrant Housing Trust, one of the biggest social housing providers in the country. In his spare time Bruce dabbles in photography and rides his motorbike at sensible speeds around Leicestershire's country roads.
Joanne Tilley, Executive Director - Group Support Services: Joanne is responsible for governance, communications, corporate policy, continuous improvement, diversity, information services to customers and for promoting resident involvement and neighbourhood management. She also takes a lead role in pursuing non-development based new business opportunities. Having joined EMH in April 2004, Joanne’s background is in Housing Management, but she has worked in central support services for most of her career. Past roles include District Housing Manager for around 1,200 mixed tenure homes, and Research & Information Manager for a medium/large Registered Social Landlord. Joanne is a member of the Chartered Institute of Housing and has an English degree from Swansea University, and Masters degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Birmingham University Business School.
Chan Kataria, Group Chief Executive: Chan joined EMH as Group Chief Executive in June 2004 after serving three years as Head of Region for Midlands & East Anglia at the Places for People Group. Prior to this he held various director level positions in organisations such as Friendship Housing and Care and Charnwood Forest Housing Association. Chan was until recently Chair of the East Midlands National Housing Federation (NHF) and a member of its national council. He has in the past been external examiner for the housing degree course and a Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) assessor. He was for many years a member of the Board of Shelter in Leicester. Chan has BSc (Hons) in Economics, is fellow member of the Chartered Institute of Housing and has an MBA from Leicester Business School. Outside of work he has two children, enjoys reading fiction and practices karate.
Chris Ashton, Managing Director - East Midlands Housing Association: Chris has worked in a variety of roles in housing covering general needs, special needs and older persons housing. She is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Housing and sits on the National Council. Holding an MBA, Chris has worked at East Midlands Housing since 1996, when she joined the association as an Area Housing Manager. In January 2005 she was appointed as Housing Services Director with responsibility for housing management services, asset management and supported housing. In November 2008 she became Managing Director of East Midlands Housing Association. At home, Chris’ family keeps her busy, along with walking, skiing, keeping fit, and reading.
Andrew Kilby, Group Finance Director: Andrew joined EMH in 1997 as Finance Director having spent his career working firstly in the private sector and from 1992 in the Housing sector. He completed his training as an accountant, working for an insurance company, pharmaceutical company and a building society; qualifying in 1988. In 1992 Andrew joined Charnwood Forest HA as Finance Manager. Today, Andrew’s responsibilities include all financial activities and information and communications technology.
Margaret Mitchell, Executive Director - Group HR: Margaret began working for EMH 36 years ago as an office junior. Following career progression and the development of the Personnel Team to include learning and development and payroll services to the whole group, she became Executive Director – Group HR in 2008. Margaret, a chartered member of the CIPD and an HR Affiliate Member of the CIH, has corporate responsibility for HR, Learning and Development and Health and Safety. She is also responsible for the office management team that runs and supports our Group Support Centre, Memorial House. Margaret’s spare time is occupied by the usual type of things, friends, travelling, school governor, reading, ‘mum’s taxi service’ and by going to the gym.