Our management team

Chris Ashton, Managing Director

Chris has worked in a variety of roles in housing covering general needs, special needs and older people's housing. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) and sits on the National Council. Holding an MBA, Chris joined East Midlands Housing as an area housing manager in 1996 and became Housing Services Director with responsibility for housing management services, asset management and supported housing in 2005. In November 2008 she became Managing Director of East Midlands Housing Association (EMHA). Along with walking, skiing, keeping fit and reading, Chris’s family also keeps her busy.

David Morris, Head of Customer Services

Dave previously worked in the private sector for a well-known high street bank, progressing from a cashier through to contact centre manager. He joined EMHA in 1997 and subsequently set up the association’s first Customer Service Centre (CSC) which went live in 1999 with Dave as CSC Manager. In 2009 he became Head of Customer Services. Dave has a keen interest in technology and editing his holiday videos.

David Shaw, Head of Asset Management

David joined EMHA in 1993 as a maintenance officer having spent the previous 13 years working as a bricklayer and later a site foreman for a private building contractor. Having successfully obtained a first class honours degree in building surveying, he managed the reactive maintenance services for our stock within our East and South management areas for more than 10 years before stepping up to a new challenge within the property services team in 2006, where he currently heads up our re-investment and planned work activities. With a keen interest in the application of renewable energy technologies, he is always looking for practical and cost-effective means to have them incorporated within the domestic situation.

Graeme Stewardson, Head of Housing Management

Graeme has worked in social housing for more than 30 years covering a variety of roles within housing management. He has overall responsibility for rent collection, estate management, making sure that empty homes are filled quickly and to people in housing need and dealing with anti-social behaviour. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Housing and holds an honours degree from Newcastle University. He joined EMHA in 2002. He has many interests outside of work including photography, walking in the Peak District and cultivating carnivorous plants.

Sally Taylor, Head of Supported Housing

Sally has worked in supported housing for the past 20 years and as Head of Supported Housing at EMHA for five years. Prior to this role she worked at the Places for People Group. Sally is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Housing. She has a Level 5 Management NVQ and a Stage 1 Sign Language qualification. Outside of work she enjoys travelling to France, practising her basic language skills, going to the theatre and eating out as well as keeping an eye on four children.