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.
Front row left to right:
Chris Ashton, Housing Services Director: 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 covering 6,500 properties. At home, Chris’ family keep her busy, along with walking, skiing, keeping fit, socialising and a bit of reading.
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 fch Housing and Care and Charnwood Forest Housing Association. Chan is Chair of the East Midlands National Housing Federation (NHF) and is also a member of the Regional Housing Board, which is accountable to the Regional Assembly. 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, has two children, enjoys reading and is a brown belt (1st Kyu) in Karate.
Joanne Tilley, Executive Head of Policy: Joanne is responsible for 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.
Rear row left to right:
Andrew Kilby, 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, Human Resources Director: Margaret began working for EMH 32 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 Human Resources Director in 1999. Margaret, a qualified member of the CIPD, has corporate responsibility for HR, Learning and Development, PR and Health and Safety. She is also responsible for the office management team that runs and supports Jubilee House. Margaret’s spare time is occupied by her two children, whom she loves, and by going to the gym, which she hates!
Craig Felts, 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 represents the East Midlands Rural Affairs Forum on the Regional Housing Board, is Chairman of the East Midlands Rural Housing Practitioners Group and Company Secretary to Northamptonshire, Warwickshire and Leicestershire Rural Housing Association. Craig says his outside interests continue the rural theme - he is a keen angler and enjoys cycling and walking.
Nikki Chawda, Director of Foundation Housing Association: Nikki joined as Operations Manager at Foundation Housing Association (a subsidiary of EMH) in January 2006.
Before this she was an Audit Commission inspector for the Housing Inspectorate in the East Midlands, which involved inspecting housing associations, local authorities, Arms Length Management Organisations and Supporting People authorities. Indeed, back in 2002, Nikki inspected EMH. Nikki also worked at Leicester Housing Association for over 22 years in roles ranging from maintenance, supported housing, development and capital finance, and heading up a team of housing officers delivering generic services across the East of Leicester City and County. Spare time in filled with activities. Nikki has a busy family life and enjoys watching Bollywood movies where she picked up a lot of her language skills. She speaks fluent Guajarati and also Hindi, Punjabi and pigeon Swahili. She loves cooking, the cinema, holidays and gardening.
Jim Patman, Development Director: Jim has worked for EMH since1998 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 50 years young, he has been married for 25 years and has 4 children. Jim’s hobbies - well there had to be one somewhere – a football fanatic. For 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!