Chair of the Group Board

Chime Housing is seeking an experienced and values-led Chair to lead its Group Board. This vacancy has arisen as a result of the sad passing of our Chair Designate, Hattie Llewelyn-Davies OBE, on Saturday 23 May 2026. Hattie’s drive, vision and passion for delivering for residents was central to the creation of Chime Housing, and this role is a unique opportunity to join us at an important stage in our development, as we work together to honour her legacy by building an organisation that makes a real difference to our customers and communities.

Formed in June 2026 through the merger of Thrive Homes and Watford Community Housing, Chime Housing is a Community Gateway housing association with more than 13,500 homes across Hertfordshire and the surrounding areas. Our focus is on providing good-quality homes and services for lower-income households, with the majority of our homes provided for social and affordable rent.

As a newly formed organisation, Chime brings together the strengths, experience and values of two established housing associations. The Chair will play a central role in helping the Board build on those foundations, establish a strong shared identity and provide effective leadership as Chime develops its future strategy.

The role

As Chair of the Group Board, you will provide leadership to the Board and help set the overall strategic direction of Chime Housing. You will ensure that the organisation maintains strong and effective governance, meets its legal and regulatory responsibilities and remains focused on the interests of tenants, leaseholders and communities.

You will lead the effective conduct of the Group Board and its business, supporting the Board to oversee organisational performance and ensuring that decisions are taken in the best interests of Chime Housing and the communities it serves. You will also ensure that the Board operates to high standards of corporate governance, with appropriate oversight of legal, regulatory and financial requirements.

You will work closely with the Chief Executive and Executive team, providing constructive support and challenge while maintaining the appropriate distinction between executive and non-executive responsibilities. You will also ensure that the Board has access to appropriate professional advice when required and that sufficient authority is delegated to committees, working groups, the Chief Executive and others to enable the organisation to operate effectively between Board meetings.

An important element of the role will be creating an inclusive and effective Board environment. Chime’s Board brings together members from its two legacy organisations, and the Chair will help develop a cohesive culture in which different perspectives are encouraged and all Board members are able to contribute effectively. You will promote constructive debate, maintain appropriate standards of behaviour and ensure that the Board reaches well-informed and balanced decisions.

As a Community Gateway housing association, Chime has a membership model that places residents at the heart of its governance. The Chair will therefore need to be comfortable engaging directly with members, listening to different perspectives and ensuring that the voice of residents helps inform decision-making. You will foster an effective relationship with the Gateway Membership Team and Chime’s wider membership, while representing the organisation externally and acting as an ambassador for Chime Housing.

About you

We are looking for an experienced Board leader who understands both the responsibilities of a Chair and the particular demands of working within a complex and regulated housing environment.

You will bring:

• Significant experience of chairing a Board or committee, ideally within social housing or another regulated environment.
• A strong understanding of governance and the respective roles of executive and non-executive directors.
• Experience of organisational change, merger or integration.
• The ability to bring together individuals with different experiences and perspectives and build consensus around a shared purpose.
• An inclusive chairing style that encourages contribution from all Board members.
• Sound judgement and the ability to provide both constructive support and appropriate challenge to the Chief Executive and Executive team.
• A genuine commitment to resident engagement and ensuring customer and member voices are heard within governance and decision-making.
• The confidence and authority to manage complex or challenging discussions constructively.
• The ability to represent Chime Housing credibly with residents, partners, stakeholders and other organisations.
• A collaborative, positive and adaptable approach.
• Sufficient capacity to make a meaningful commitment to Chime and the responsibilities of the Chair.

Previous Chair experience would be welcomed, although candidates with substantial experience as a Vice Chair, Senior Independent Director or equivalent who can demonstrate readiness to step into a Group Chair role may also bring relevant experience.

The successful candidate will be expected to commit to the role for an initial period of at least three years, with the potential to serve for up to six years subject to review, and to undertake relevant training and development where required.

This is an opportunity to play an important role in the next chapter of a newly formed housing association, helping Chime establish a strong Board culture, develop its future strategy and remain firmly connected to the residents and communities it serves.

For more information please reach out to Tom Neely at Neemar Search Sign in to view email or Jonathan Robinson [email protected] or 07942 342 757.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

Chime Housing is committed to building a diverse, inclusive and values-led organisation. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. Our recruitment process is fair and accessible, ensuring equal opportunities for all candidates. As a Disability Confident employer, we’re happy to make reasonable adjustments throughout the process, please let us know if there’s anything we can do to support you

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