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Norfolk landlord announces former Longhurst boss as new chair
A Norfolk housing association has appointed a former chief executive of Longhurst Group as its new chair.
Bob Walder will lead the board of Freebridge Community Housing, which owns or manages 7,000 homes in West Norfolk.
He has worked in the sector for over 45 years. As well as his time as boss of Longhurst, his other previous roles include chair of rural housing at the National Housing Federation, board chair at Saffron Housing and chair at Ongo.
Freebridge said that he brings “fresh perspectives and a strong commitment to ensuring affordable and quality housing for all”.
He will succeed current chair Andy Walder (no relation), who has completed his maximum board term and will retire at the end of September. He has led the board of Freebridge since 2017.
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New chair Bob Walder said: “During the interview process, I met with members of the team, some tenants and board members, which was incredibly useful to get a rounded overview of Freebridge and it really felt like an organisation where I could be at home.”
Outgoing chair Andy Walder said: “What I’ve learned from being chair is that there are some great people out there doing fantastic things and there are also people out there who genuinely need help and support. It’s how you knit that all together.
“Freebridge is a great organisation with fantastic potential. It has a strong vision, mission, values and strategy in place, and is ambitious for itself and its customers.
“There are clear plans and a clear strategy so the building blocks are all there. Working with Freebridge has given me a real purpose within the community and a sense of pride.
“There’s a great passion with the people involved, Freebridge colleagues are the real beating heart of the organisation when it comes to caring for their customers and the community, and I’d particularly like thank our tenants for all their engagement, help and support.”
Anita Jones, chief executive of Freebridge, said: “Andy’s dedication to our tenants, colleagues and the communities we serve has been unwavering. His extensive knowledge and diverse skill set have played a pivotal role in improving Freebridge’s future, including increased investment in our existing customers homes and the development of more for those who need them, as well as his vision for our Freebridge Academy for our colleagues and the community.
“His wisdom and ability to navigate challenges has set a strong foundation for our future and on behalf of all our colleagues I’d like to thank him for his commitment to Freebridge over the past eight years.”
Ms Jones added that Bob Walder’s “extensive experience and expertise in the housing industry makes him an invaluable addition to our board and I look forward to working closely with him to provide quality homes and excellent services for current and future generations”.
In January, Freebridge secured a £40m loan from Lloyds Bank to finance its development ambitions.
Last year, Freebridge saw its saw its financial viability grade downgraded from V1 to V2 by the Regulator of Social Housing. Its existing governance grade was confirmed at G1.
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