Orbit appoints debt advice boss as CEO

Housing association Orbit has announced its new group chief executive will be Phil Andrew, who is currently boss at debt advice charity StepChange. 

Jonathan Wallbank, group finance director at the 46,500-home housing provider, will step down as interim chief executive when Andrew joins on 3 July this year. 

In November last year, Orbit, which has reported its half-yearly turnover to 30 September last year went up 9%, announced its previous boss Mark Hoyland was leaving after six years because he had been poached by contractor Osborne. 

David Weaver, Orbit group chair, said Andrew “brings with him a strong commercial focus combined with meaningful experience of leading organisations that are driven by social purpose”. Weaver added: “This, alongside his knowledge of social housing and his experience from outside the sector, will add impetus in driving forward Orbit’s vision: to lead in building thriving communities.”

Andrew is a charted accountant, qualified treasurer and chartered marketer. He has previously been chief executive of Working Links, which provides innovative interventions to disadvantaged and socially excluded groups within the UK, Ireland, and the Middle East

He has also held a number of senior positions in the UK and France including chief finance Officer of Sodexo UK & Ireland, and chief executive, Sodexo Justice Services.

He is vice-chair of Raven Housing Trust and previously chair of the Breck Foundation, an online safety awareness charity.  

He also worked in financial roles for eight years for American Tobacco, including a stint working in Russia.

Coventry-based Orbit announced in December it is reducing its new build programme during the five years to 2025 from 6,500 to 6,000 homes because of increased property maintenance and new-build project costs.

Despite this Orbit said it has increased its completions in the first half of 2022/23 from 393 to 647 homes year-on-year.