Thirteen appoints chief investment and property officer in leadership restructure

Thirteen Group has appointed a chief investment and property officer.

Sharon Thomas has been promoted from director of development and partnerships to the newly-created role.

Thomas has served at Middlesbrough-based Thirteen Group for more than seven years, in several roles.

Before that she worked as director of development and regeneration at Middlesborough Borough Council. She is also on the board of Railway Housing Association.

In her new role Thomas will lead the 36,000-home landlord’s investment, development and partnerships, and asset optimisation teams, which have recently been brought together into one directorate.

As part of its new-look leadership structure Thirteen is also seeking to recruit a chief customer officer.

It has also recently created two other new positions, chief resources officer, which has been filled by Jane Castor, and chief information and technology officer, a role taken up by Matt Cavanagh.

Matt Forrest, said Thomas demonstrated “great energy throughout a competitive recruitment process, as well as a deep understanding of the importance of leadership and culture in delivering our business strategy.”

He said: “The teams she is leading can give us a real end-to-end view of our assets and she has shown us that she understands the opportunities this brings.”

Thirteen Group in 2023/24 increased its investment in housing development by 75% from £76m to £134m. It plans to deliver 1,861 homes over the next five years.