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:
Paul Casey, Chair
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.
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.
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.
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 Parkinson
Paul is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Housing with more than 25 years’ experience in housing and asset management. He has held Executive Director roles across both Local Authorities and Housing Associations in the East Midlands and now works as a senior interim, providing specialist leadership and strategic support across the housing sector.
Clare Chrisp
Clare is an experienced finance leader with a strong background across the housing, charity and commercial sectors. She is currently Chief Financial Officer for the P3 Charity Group and has held senior finance roles at Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing, Boots, the University of Northampton and GEC – General Electric Company plc (UK). Clare brings extensive strategic and operational expertise, ensuring value for money, robust financial governance and informed decision‑making within regulated environments.