New Director and a re-structure at Merlin

A new Directorate has been created at Merlin Housing Society, and a new Director has been appointed to lead it.

The housing directorate formerly run by Andy Graham has been split into two. Andy is now Director of Investment, looking after Merlin’s planned and future investment into its property stock, while Christopher Smith joins the South Gloucestershire-based society as Director of Housing and Support.

Christopher will be responsible for managing all of Merlin’s housing stock, including its sheltered schemes and homeless hostels. Christopher has more than 10 years experience of working in social housing and joined Merlin from Freebridge Community Housing in Kings Lynn, Norfolk which was a stock transfer housing association formed in 2006.

“Coming to Merlin is an exciting challenge,” he said. “A lot of very good work has already been done but there is still considerable scope for improvement in terms of the services being provided. One of the biggest challenges is to ensure the continued delivery of the promises made to residents in the offer document. At the same time, we need to drive up our performance in key areas such as rent collection, combating anti-social behaviour and being able to meet housing need.”

Christopher started his career in social housing as a rent recovery officer with Broadland Housing Association in Norwich in 1995, and rose through the ranks to become assistant director of housing in 2004 when he left to join Freebridge.

Merlin Housing Society’s chief executive Ian Matthews said: “Christopher brings a wealth of experience and knowledge with him to Merlin. He has worked in a number of roles within housing management, and is the ideal person to lead our housing and support services strategy.”