Winston Williams, Managing Director, Merlin Works

Winston joined Merlin in May 2011 as the new Managing Director of Merlin Works. Before joining Merlin Winston worked in the north east of England as Group Director of Property Services for the Vela Group and prior to that as Director of Property Services at Tristar Homes Ltd.

Winston was part of the successful executive management team that was brought in to turn around the failing ALMO that was Tristar Homes, audit commission rated as poor performing one star organisation with poor prospects for improvement and within twelve months achieved an Audit Commission two star rating with promising prospects for improvement. With Winston’s continued input and influence Tristar later became the first social housing organisation in England to achieve the coveted ‘Customer Services Excellence Award’ and went on to successfully lead Tristar through the transition leading to stock transfer and then on to the successful creation of the Vela Group now to include Housing Hartlepool.

Prior to his time in the North East Winston worked at A2 Housing Group based in Middlesex as Head of Property Services. He was part of the senior management team that lead the successful merging of Apex Housing Group and Airways Housing Society to form A2 Housing Group. Before that Winston worked for Bristol City Council as Technical and Investment Manager, heading up the award-winning Easton Renewal regeneration project.
Winston has more than 20 years wide ranging senior management experience having worked for a council, housing associations, an ALMO and in the private sector to include regeneration, procurement, asset management, development, private sector housing, maintenance and environmental health housing.