Home Group exec director poached to be Thirteen’s new chief exec

Matt Forrest has been announced as the new chief executive of 35,000-home housing association Thirteen.

Matt Forrest

Matt Forrest moves from Home Group to head up Thirteen

He is moving over from Home Group, where he is executive director of operations and before that executive director of business development.

Forrest has lived and worked in the North East for nearly 30 years. He is a former teacher and chartered accountant, and has held a number of executive and senior roles. Thirteen said he “brings exceptional knowledge of the sector with a wealth of experience from social housing and the private sector.” He will join the housing group in December.

It was announced in March this year that A2 Dominion had poached Thirteen Group’s current CEO Ian Wardle. 

The news comes as Jacque Allen has been named as Your Housing’s new chief executive after Brian Cronin retired in July. 

JacqueAllen

Jacque Allen is the new Your Housing CEO

The former deputy chief executive of the 26,000-home landlord had been serving as interim CEO since July.

Allen, who has 30 years experience in the social housing sector, joined Your Housing as chief operating officer in March 2020 and was appointed deputy CEO in early 2021. 

Cronin retired in July to spend time with his family after 18 years as a CEO. He oversaw Grosvenor Housing Association merge with Arena housing association and finally Your Housing Group in 2012, which created the landlord Allen will now head up. 



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