My RHA
New Chief Operating Officer
1st February 2024 | posted in News
Railway Housing Association has appointed Chris Marshall as its new Chief Operating Officer.
Currently Head of Housing Services at Thirteen Group, Chris is set to join Railway in late February 2024.
This is a new position created by the Darlington-headquartered Association. Reporting to Chief Executive Matt Sugden, Chris will lead a team of 25 responsible for asset management and housing operations.
Railway Housing Association owns 1,620 rented homes mainly concentrated in the areas of Darlington, Doncaster, Durham, East Riding, Hull, Leeds, Newcastle, and York. In addition, it also manages 73 leasehold properties for older people and had a sheltered housing scheme in Hereford.
Hailing from the North-East, Chris has worked in housing in the area for almost 20 years, having initially joined Housing Hartlepool as a Housing Officer in 2006.
He then moved to Gentoo where he rose to become Head of Operations, before joining Thirteen Group in 2016. In his current role with Thirteen he leads a team of 190 people delivering housing management services to the Group's 35,000 homes.
Chris says: “Joining as Chief Operating Officer represents a huge opportunity to make a direct impact on residents, colleagues, the organisation and the Board and I am delighted to now be part of the next phase of Railway’s journey.
“The Association has a strong history and it’s clear that it cares about residents and is ambitious to improve the future for residents, with further investment in homes planned.
“I am looking forward to working with the senior team and colleagues to unleash the potential to transform the organisation and deliver exceptional services for residents.”
Railway Housing Association Chief Executive Matt Sugden said: “We are delighted to have been able to attract someone of Chris’s calibre and experience to Railway Housing Association.
“He will be the first Chief Operating Officer in the 100-plus years of the Association and will play an integral part in driving through a programme of change and service improvements.
“He is a values-based leader who understands the importance of a high performing culture and ensuring colleagues are empowered and given the support they need to perform their roles. I am confident his appointment will make a significant difference to our residents.”
