L&Q picks newly created executive group director for partnerships

Ms Heald will be based at the housing association’s North West headquarters in Trafford, Greater Manchester.

Fiona Fletcher-Smith, L&Q’s chief executive, said: “I’m absolutely delighted to welcome Aly to the executive group. She has deep experience of our operations in the North West, and has already established strong local partnerships.

“Her priority now will be to support the delivery of our new corporate strategy by enabling work to provide social homes to meet housing need in this region.

“She will also support L&Q to ensure that our investment [in] major improvements to homes and services is delivered consistently across our operational areas, and continues to meet the needs of residents in the North West.”

Ms Heald’s appointment comes after a “rigorous internal recruitment process”, including sessions with members of L&Q’s resident services board and the housing association’s colleague diversity networks, the group said.

L&Q first moved into the North West region in 2016 through a joint venture with Trafford, which it bought three years later.

Ms Heald said: “I’ve dedicated my career to providing better housing services for residents in Trafford and am honoured to be able to champion L&Q’s work to do this across Greater Manchester.

“Along with Greater London, Greater Manchester has some of the [country’s] highest levels of housing need and it will be essential that we take a long-term and partnership-driven approach to tackling this.

“I look forward to working with colleagues and our valued partners to find ways to deliver more much-needed social homes.”