Hightown Housing Association has appointed former MHS Homes Group chief executive Ashley Hook and debt capital markets specialist Steve Valvona to its board.
The pair were co-opted in July, and their appointments were confirmed at the landlord’s annual general meeting in September.
Hook has four decades of experience in housing and regeneration. He is a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, the Institute of Directors, and the Chartered Institute of Housing, and holds a master’s degree in urban and regional planning.
He is independent chair of Wandsworth Housing Improvement & Transformation Board and sits on the boards of BRE Trust and Populo Homes, alongside other governance and advisory roles.
Valvona has more than 20 years’ experience in debt capital markets, including raising long-term capital for housing associations, infrastructure projects, and major corporates. He holds an MSc in real estate from the University of Reading and a BA in economics and finance from the University of Exeter.
Qadeer Kiani OBE, chair of Hightown Housing Association, said: “We are delighted to welcome Ashley and Steve to the Hightown board. Together they bring an impressive combination of housing, regeneration, governance, funding, and investment expertise. Their experience will be invaluable as we embark upon our vision for 2027–2032 with a refreshed corporate strategy that will shape our future customer offer and increase our resilience and sustainability.”
Maxine Espley MBE, chief executive of Hightown Housing Association, said: “Ashley and Steve each bring significant experience and fresh perspectives that will complement the broad range of skills already represented across our board.
“Their appointments reinforce our commitment to strong governance and strategic leadership, ensuring Hightown remains well placed to meet the opportunities and challenges facing the housing sector while continuing to deliver for our customers and communities.”
Main image: Ashley Hook (left) and Steve Valvona, Hightown Housing Association
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