Leading homelessness charity St Mungo’s has appointed three new Executive Directors to its senior leadership team to support delivery of its new strategic plan.
Two of the three appointments will be in newly created roles.
Alison Muir, the new Executive Director of Housing Services, and Ranjeet Bhupla, the new Executive Director of Information Technology and Transformation will both be joining the organisation in August.
Jonathan Manuel, the new Executive Director of Finance, will join in July, replacing the current Executive Director of Finance, following her recent retirement.
Chief Executive of St Mungo’s, Steve Douglas CBE, said:
I am delighted that we have been able to attract such strong and diverse talent, to join our established executive team.
We believe that working closely with our partners, rough sleeping can be ended. These executive appointments will help us drive our ambitious plans, to deliver for our clients and our staff.
By creating a new Executive Director of Housing Services, we want to ensure that our accommodation portfolio is of the highest standard, and it will help us to grow our range of accommodation offers, including Housing First and hostels, for those who have experienced homelessness.
We see technology, people and culture as being a key enablers for us, and the new role of Executive Director of Information Technology and Transformation will bring together our Human Resources, Technology, and Information teams under one new directorate.”
Alison, Ranjeet and Jonathan will form part of St Mungo’s executive team working alongside Mr Douglas, Executive Director of Client Services, David Fisher, and Executive Director of Strategy and Development, Rebecca Sycamore.
The appointments reflect the charity’s aspiration for greater diversity in its senior leadership team – with half of the executive being from a BAME background – and aligns with the organisation’s commitment to diversity which is a key element in its new strategic plan.
New Executive Director of Housing Services, Alison Muir, said:
“I am both excited and thrilled to have been appointed to join one of the largest homelessness charities in the UK, also a registered provider of social housing that is dedicated to ending homelessness and rebuilding lives.
“The opportunity to work with clients and residents, colleagues, and other stakeholders to deliver St Mungo’s new ambitious five-year strategy was what attracted me to the role.
“It will be a pleasure to be able to bring my knowledge, experience and commitment to placing clients and residents at the core of our services and policies. I most look forward to listening and achieving tangible outcomes for clients through innovation and the building of strong relationships and partner-centred approach.”
New Executive Director of Information Technology and Transformation, Ranjeet Bhupla, said:
“There are three important elements of a happy and successful life: health, education and housing. Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to influence health and education outcomes but felt housing was an area that was missing. When I saw the advert for St Mungo’s it felt like a calling from within, and I felt a strong pull for St Mungo’s and its mission of ending rough sleeping.
“I am delighted to join St Mungo’s at a time where technology has a crucial part to play in improving services for our people, stakeholders and most of all our clients. I’m looking forward to working together and becoming a part of St Mungo’s and the jigsaw puzzle that will end rough sleeping by 2026.”
New Executive Director of Finance, Jonathan Manuel, said:
“Living and working in an urban area sadly means seeing homelessness every day and I am very excited to have the opportunity to apply my commercial and charity experience to help St Mungo’s realise its ambition to end rough sleeping.”
St Mungo’s has also announced the appointment of three new members to its Board of Trustees. They are:
- Teddy Nyahasha, currently Chief Executive of OneFamily
- Darren Johnson, currently Chief Operating Officer at Impax Asset Management, and
- Stephen Smith, currently a board member with Orbit Housing Group, and a former Board and Executive member of the National Audit Office
The new Chair of the Board of Trustees Joanna Killian takes up her role in September. She succeeds Robert Napier CBE who will step down at this year’s AGM, after six years as Chair.
At this point, the Board will be 50 % female and 28% BAME, reflecting the Board’s emphasis on talent and diversity in its composition.