Octavia Housing has hired Kevin Bolt as managing director to lead the troubled association as it enters merger talks with 50,000-home Abri Group.

Bolt, formerly chief executive of 19,500-home BPHA, will take over in January, when chief executive Sandra Skeete stands down.

Bolt said he is looking forward to joining Octavia at a “crucial moment in its history” as the 5,000-home association seeks a merger partner in a bid to regain compliance with the Regulator of Social Housing’s governance and financial viability standard.