Non-compliant east London housing association appoints new chief executive

Non-compliant housing association Eastend Homes has appointed a new chief executive.

Daniel Killian, currently director of housing at Gravesham Borough Council, will take up the role in September.

Eastend Homes is a community-led provider which manages 3,800 homes in Tower Hamlets in east London. It currently holds a non-compliant ‘G3’ governance grading.

The Regulator of Social Housing downgraded Eastend in May 2023, saying it had “insufficient assurance that the board of East End Homes has been managing its affairs and overseeing the business with an appropriate degree of skill, diligence, independence, prudence, and foresight, commensurate to the provider’s size, scale, and risk profile.”

It also said the provider had been unable to demonstrate that it was identifying, managing and mitigating risks and also found weaknesses in financial planning.

Killian takes over from Yvonne Arrowsmith, who has been interim chief since last November.

>>See also: Why are councils getting low consumer regulation gradings?

Prior to that, Arrowsmith had served as interim chief executive at Rochdale Boroughwide Housing after the death of toddler Awaab Ishak in one of its properties following exposure to mould. 

Jacqui Bateson, chair of the Eastend Homes board, who herself was only appointed last September, said: “On behalf of the Board, I warmly welcome Daniel’s appointment.

“He impressed us with his passion for social housing and dedication to meeting the needs, aspirations and priorities of residents regardless of tenure. 

“Daniel joins Eastend Homes at a time of unprecedented change for the organisation. Through our governance role, the Board will offer Daniel our support while reviewing and scrutinising decisions to make sure that Eastend Homes operates as a fit-for-the future housing association.”