We’re rated G1 for governance, with a skilled, diverse and experienced board, which includes residents.
The board and its supporting committees provide the group’s overall direction and strategy, in line with the National Housing Federation’s Code of Governance. The board works to a terms of reference and code of conduct.
Board members are paid for their time, contributions, skills and experience as set out in our Board recruitment, succession and remuneration strategy. They can claim reasonable expenses and are required to declare their interest or involvement in any other relevant organisations (for example, other board or company directorships).
Board members normally serve for up to six years, subject to re-election every three years. In our most recent regulatory judgement, emh was top-rated as ‘G1’ for governance.
Our current board members are:
Dr David Russell
David became board Chair in June 2017. An accountant by profession, he is a member of the British Accounting & Finance Association, and the Institute for Fiscal Studies.
David works as a Professor of Corporate Social Responsibility, with research interests covering sustainability, carbon emissions, taxation and valuation. He has led change programmes to introduce commercial principles into not-for-profit organisations and transition public services to successful enterprises.
Patricia McCabe, Vice Chair Member Responsible for ED&I Lead
Patricia is an experienced non-executive who has served on the boards of several housing and third-sector organisations. She is Chair of Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid and also of the Birmingham Ageing Better Strategic Partnership. Patricia’s career has primarily been in organisational development across housing, social services, the NHS, charities and the private sector. She is professionally qualified in company direction, general management and human resources.
Andy Murtha
Andy brings a unique perspective to the Housing Board, with over forty years’ experience in the voluntary and emergency services. He has served on five boards, chairing two and acting as company secretary for one. His lived experience has given him expertise in both mental and physical disabilities, and he is a wheelchair user. Andy has worked with Social Services in commissioning and procurement, and with the police on disability engagement, including senior-level recruitment. He also provided similar services within the NHS, where he was employed as a Lived Experience Partner to help improve major services. Alongside this, Andy spent 27 years as a commercial trainer, the last three as Training Manager. He was an initial member of the emh Scrutiny Panel and now chairs the Resident Influence Committee.
Margaret Coward
Margaret has over 30 years’ experience in housing and regeneration, including senior roles in the public and voluntary sectors in Nottingham, Derby, Surrey, Hampshire, Belfast, Sheffield and Leeds. As a volunteer, she is Chair of an almshouse charity providing accommodation for older people, and Trustee of a charity supporting people at risk of domestic abuse. Margaret has been an independent member of the Care and Support and Audit Committees since 2018.
Shabir Ismail
Shabir is the Deputy Principal and Chief Executive of Leicester College, with extensive educational experience spanning colleges, private companies and a government agency. He is a qualified accountant who previously worked as a consultant advising clients on governance, risk and finance. Shabir is an experienced executive and non-executive director who’s worked with several boards and committees including George Eliot NHS Trust and the Leicestershire Local Enterprise Partnership.
Roger Merchant
Roger is a chartered accountant and charity specialist partner for UHY Hacker Young, a national accountancy and business advisory firm. After graduating from Bristol University in Economics and Statistics, Roger worked in London and Warsaw as a partner with PwC, before moving to the East Midlands. He is a former Chair of Charnwood Neighbourhood Housing, and has also served as a trustee and committee member at Warwick Care, Derby Museums, Leicester College, the Chartered Accountants’ Benevolent Fund and Leicester Business Voice.
Gail Puttock, resident board member and Member Responsible for Complaints
Gail is an emh customer and a highly experienced human resources and employment law specialist in the consultancy and health sectors. She is also a former parish councillor and works with Citizens Advice to support foodbanks in the Hinckley area. Gail performs a special role in overseeing how we respond to customer complaints and comply with the Housing Ombudsman Service’s Complaint Handling Code.
Paul Casey
Paul has more than 40 years’ social housing experience, especially in asset management and development. He’s the director of an affordable housing consultancy providing development and asset management services to contractors, developers and registered housing providers. He is also Property and Asset Director of Horizon Infrastructure Ltd, an institutional investment management company.
Anne Chapman
Anne has extensive governance, strategic and legal experience, and currently works as Company Secretary for Golding Homes. She was previously a solicitor for over 20 years, specialising in strategic risk management, regulatory and legal compliance, data protection and health and safety. Anne has wide-ranging stakeholder engagement and governance experience, including non-executive positions in the health, housing, education and charity sectors. She is Vice Chair of Eldon Housing Association, Vice Chair of the homelessness and mental health charity Porchlight and an independent member of the Chartered Institute of Housing Audit and Risk Committee.