Housing

In 2026, we mark 10 years since the establishment of GatenbySanderson’s dedicated Housing Practice.

Over that decade, the sector has faced unprecedented pressure: regulatory reform, economic volatility, building safety, customer expectations, and the ongoing housing crisis. Through it all, one constant has remained clear, leadership capability is the single biggest determinant of organisational resilience and impact.

From executive search and interim leadership to board advisory and leadership development, our Housing Practice was created to support organisations operating in complex, highly scrutinised environments. Ten years on, we are proud to be working with housing associations, local authorities and arm’s‑length organisations across the UK, supporting leadership that delivers both commercial strength and social purpose.

Over the last decade, we have supported:

Housing Plus Group & The Wrekin Group (2024): Leadership structure, remuneration & assimilation.
Melin Homes & Newport City Homes (2024): CEO appointment & selection design.
Colne & Greenfields ® Eastlight (2020): Full advisory suite.
Radian & Yarlington ® Abri (2019): Executive assimilation & remuneration.
Housing Plus & Stafford and Rural Homes (2018): Leadership design & assimilation.

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Chief Executive appointments.

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Executive Directors appointed.

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Board Chairs appointed.

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Non-Executive Directors successfully placed.

What differentiates our Housing Practice is not just scale of activity, but depth of experience.

Our current team brings together 118 years of collective service at GatenbySanderson, underpinned by long‑standing relationships across housing, local government and regulation.

Our clients reflect trusted, long‑term partnerships built on discretion, insight and outcomes, not transactional recruitment. Since forming our Housing Practice in 2016, GS has supported leadership recruitment at scale across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

One of the most meaningful developments during the last decade has been the creation of LeadershipNOW!, our flagship leadership development programme delivered in partnership with UNIFY.

LeadershipNOW! was designed to address a systemic challenge in housing: the under‑representation of ethnically diverse leaders at senior levels. Through coaching, development, career support and peer networks, the programme has supported both current and aspiring leaders to progress with confidence and visibility.

Crucially, LeadershipNOW! is not about short‑term intervention, it is about long‑term sector change, helping organisations strengthen their leadership pipelines while reinforcing trust, inclusion and credibility.

We are hugely experienced in placing interim leaders who have the gravitas and communication skills to help you deliver transformative agendas.
Investing heavily in sourcing, developing and supporting the very best interims, we build strong and personal relationships with them to understand their areas of expertise and link them successfully to our clients. Working across government, regulation, not for profit, education, housing and health we specialise in providing executive interim leaders to organisations that need strategic leadership at times of change.

Our interim leaders work across a range of disciplines.
These include Chief Executives; Resources; Finance; Operations; HR and OD; Commercial; Technology and transformation; Social Care; Property & Development; and Governance.

Find out more about our Interim Practice.