Housing association Stonewater has appointed James Bradbury to the newly created role of chief investment officer.
Bradbury will lead the delivery of Stonewater’s responsibilities in relation to health and safety, drive investment in existing homes to ensure they are safe, warm and fit for the future, and help the organisation meet evolving regulatory challenges.
He will also continue leading the housing provider’s new development programme, helping meet the growing demand for affordable housing across the country.
Bradbury was previously the organisation’s group director of growth and development. He is well-known across the organisation, having been part of the company since its inception in 2015.
“In my current role, I’ve led one of the most ambitious affordable housing development programmes in the UK,” he said. “The programme has been focused on delivering high-quality, sustainable homes that meet the diverse needs of our communities.
“I’ve spent much of my career at Stonewater and its legacy organisation, Raglan Housing, and I’m proud to have played a part in shaping a development function that delivers more than 1,000 homes each year for customers who desperately need them. Taking on the new chief investment officer role is a great opportunity to continue to drive Stonewater’s ambition and deliver real social impact through place-making.”
Bradbury began at Stonewater as a regional development manager in 2015, having previously worked for Raglan housing association. He was then appointed in senior roles overseeing broader regional development projects and held the role of director of development operations from 2019 until his appointment as group director of growth and development in 2025.
Jonathan Layzell, Stonewater’s chief executive, said: “James’ appointment into this new role is a natural progression. With over 20 years’ experience in housing and development operations across the full lifecycle of housing delivery, he brings a real depth of insight and expertise.
“His passion for building homes that are energy-efficient, cost-effective and genuinely help people to thrive is exactly what we need in a chief investment officer. It’s great to see our ‘home grown’ talent progress like this and it’s a very well-deserved appointment for James.”
The organisation has also announced Syka Sheikh as its new company secretary, also serving as group director of governance and assurance.
Main image: James Bradbury, chief investment officer, Stonewater
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