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Anchor chief executive steps down after three years in role

News23.06.25by Ellie Brown

Sarah Jones has left her role as chief executive of Anchor after three years, and Amanda Holgate, its chief financial officer (CFO), was announced as her interim replacement.

Sarah Jones, outgoing chief executive of Anchor Homes

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Sarah Jones has left her role as chief executive of Anchor after three years, and Amanda Holgate, its chief financial officer, was announced as her interim replacement #UKhousing

Ms Holgate has been appointed interim chief executive (CEO) as the housing association looks for a permanent replacement.

Ms Jones has left the the 55,000-home later-life housing and care provider after more than a decade in senior roles at the business.

Christopher Kemball, chair of Anchor, said: “The board would like to record its thanks to Sarah for her hard work and commitment as CEO in what have been difficult times for the housing and care sectors, as well as her contribution as CFO for the previous six years.

“We wish her well for the future. The board has appointed Amanda Holgate, our current CFO, as interim CEO while we conduct a formal search for a permanent CEO, and we remain committed to our long-term strategic direction.”

Last month, Anchor appointed Sara Thomson to the new role of chief risk officer, following a non-compliant consumer standards grade earlier this year.

The landlord was handed a non-compliant C3 rating by the Regulator of Social Housing. In its judgement in February, the English regulator said there were “serious failings in Anchor’s delivery of the consumer standards and significant improvement is needed”.

The ruling came after a self-referral by Anchor that cited backlogs with electrical remedial actions, an audit that found problems with information on damp and mould, and an external review highlighting weaknesses across health and safety.

Anchor said it had brought in an improvement plan which would be overseen by a special board committee.

In April, the association also announced the appointment of a new executive director of property and assets. Julie Wittich took up the new position this month, after leaving her position as chief operating officer at Accent housing association. Ms Wittich took over from Jeremy Kape, the interim executive director.

The landlord said it was “really pleased to welcome Julie” because of her 30 years of experience in transformational change in customer-influenced services.

This includes reducing repair backlogs, improving health and safety compliance, and enhancing customer experience across large and diverse housing portfolios.