Anchor hires chief risk officer as it seeks to improve regulatory ratings

Anchor has appointed Sara Thomson to its newly-created role of chief risk officer (CRO). 

The later-living housing provider said the position has been added to the executive team to improve its regulatory ratings.

This comes after the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) launched an investigation into the 54,000-home landlord’s safety failings in February this year. Anchor was also handed a low C3 grading for consumer standards.

Anchor said Thomson’s role will involve ensuring governance, regulatory, policy, and risk and assurance frameworks are compliant with regulation.

Thomson, who started in the position earlier this week, was previously the executive director and chief risk officer at Bromford Housing Group. She is also non-executive director, vice chair and senior independent director at NewArch Homes – Octopus Affordable Housing’s for-profit registered provider.

>>See also: ‘One in five of us is over 65. In 10 years, it’s going to be one in four’… Anchor CEO Sarah Jones on why affordable later living housing matters

She has also held senior roles at Lloyds Bank and Nationwide Building Society.

Sarah Jones, chief executive of Anchor, said: “Sara has an impressive track record, and we’re delighted to welcome her to Anchor. I look forward to her playing an important role in ensuring a culture of high performance and accountability around risk awareness, governance and compliance. A key focus will be ensuring we achieve high quality outcomes for residents and deliver our strategy.”