Former executive director Sharon Marsh, who has been with the Knowsley-based provider since 2012, takes the helm

Livv Group has announced the appointment of Sharon Marsh as its new chief executive officer.

Her appointment follows the resignation of Léann Hearne, who led the 13,000-home landlord through a rebrand and regulatory upgrades, in April.

Marsh has spent 13 years at Livv (formerly known as First Ark), having held several senior leadership positions.

Most recently, she was executive director of customer insight, and she has almost two decades of experience in human resources. Marsh will take over the role fully following a transition period of unspecified length.

Sharon Marsh - Livv Housing Group

Source: Livv Group

Sharon Marsh is the new chief executive of Livv Group

The Merseyside housing provider recently emerged from eight months of industrial action, with striking staff returning to work in June.

The role of CEO was advertised externally following Hearne’s resignation and Marsh’s appointment follows “a rigorous and competitive recruitment process” during which she was unanimously selected by the board.

Philip Raw, chair of Livv, said: “Sharon’s leadership was instrumental in our most recent regulatory upgrade. Her grasp of both the operational and strategic challenges facing housing providers is exceptional. This appointment reflects our continued commitment to regulatory excellence, customer-focused service, and long-term resilience in a rapidly evolving housing landscape.”

Marsh and Hearne will work together over the coming months “to ensure a smooth transition.”

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Marsh said: “I’m honoured to step into the CEO role at such a pivotal time. The housing sector is under increasing scrutiny, and at Livv, we’re committed to meeting those expectations with transparency, accountability, and a relentless focus on our core mission: providing safe, secure, and quality homes.

“Under Léann’s leadership, we’ve made significant strides, and I’m excited to build on that strong foundation to continue delivering excellent services to our customers and meeting the evolving expectations of our regulators.”