Senior management posts filled at the Homes and Communities Agency
25 June 2009
< Back to news index
The Homes and Communities Agency has completed its immediate recruitment to senior corporate posts with the appointment of three new heads of function.
Stephen Muers, currently head of strategy at the Office of Climate Change will join the Agency as head of policy and performance; Keith Kerslake, currently head of communications at Hampshire County Council will join as head of communications; and Robin Caven, previously chief commercial officer at Lend Lease will join as head of private finance. Robin Caven will be in post by the end of July, with Stephen Muers and Keith Kerslake taking up their appointments on 1 September.
Sir Bob Kerslake, chief executive of the HCA, said: “These are three really important posts for the HCA. Our policy and performance lead will set the framework within which we operate and make a major contribution to our continued clear direction; our Head of Communications will inform all our stakeholders about what we want to achieve, as well as being a major voice on their behalf within the Agency; and I don’t need to work too hard to stress just how significant private finance will be to our programme in the future.”
“So there is a lot for our new appointees to achieve in giving a national context to our work and supporting our primary focus on local delivery, and I am pleased we’ve been able to attract individuals of such high calibre and broad experience.”
Stephen Muers has a strong track record in the public sector, with a particular emphasis on public service reform, economic development and environmental issues, most recently as head of strategy at the Office for Climate Change where he led on the publication of a new national strategy for energy efficiency and delivered an action plan on the promotion of technology as a solution to climate change. As head of policy and performance at the HCA, Stephen will be responsible for the Agency’s policy and strategy development, for the preparation of the annual Corporate Plan, including investment priorities and performance targets, and the creation of a new set of national quality standards. He will be charged with supporting innovation across the HCA.
Keith Kerslake also has a strong record of achievement in the public sector, most recently as head of communications at Hampshire County Council since 1999, and before that as deputy director for communications at the Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, in particular responsible for a regional press office service and for delivering communications advice to the Deputy Prime Minister. As head of communications, Keith will take responsibility for all internal and external communications, nationally and regionally, including marketing, digital communications, press and PR and public affairs. Both Stephen and Keith will report to Trevor Beattie, director of strategy, policy, performance and research.
Robin Caven brings significant private sector experience to the HCA, with a particular emphasis on finance issues and property development. As head of private finance, Robin will be responsible for the HCA’s existing £1.9 billion PFI programme, Local Housing Companies and the Private Rented Sector Initiative, as well as other new sources of private investment in the housing and regeneration sector. Robin will report to Eamonn Boylan, deputy CEO and director of new ventures and partnerships.
Ends
For more media information contact Robert Davies in the HCA press office, 020 7881 1624 / robert.davies@hca.gsx.gov.uk.
Notes to editors:
The Homes and Communities Agency is the single, national housing and regeneration agency for England.
Our vision is about creating opportunity for people to live in homes they can afford, in places they want to live and for local authorities and communities to deliver the ambition they have for their own areas.
This will be achieved by:
- Acting as the bridge between national targets and local ambitions, with a strong regional presence
- Through a process of 'single conversations' with local authorities, RDAs and sub regional partnerships;
Working effectively with the market, housebuilders, investors and other stakeholders - Understanding the needs and aspirations of people and communities.
The HCA brings together English Partnerships, investment functions of the Housing Corporation, and the Academy for Sustainable Communities, with major delivery programmes of Communities and Local Government.