Our leadership team
Our Executive Team
Mark Gifford - Chief Executive and Health and Safety Lead
Our Chief Executive, Mark Gifford, has many successful years of senior leadership experience in both the public and private sector and demonstrates an unwavering commitment to serving society and customer-focused services.
His extensive experience includes being CEO of the National Citizen Service – a royal charter body offering programmes for young people to help them build confidence, life skills and stronger communities.
Before that he spent 23 years with the John Lewis Partnership in a variety of senior leadership roles, including leading all the Waitrose supermarkets.
Mark is also a non-executive director of Manchester University Foundation Hospital Trust and a School Academy Director. This role had given him insight into the direct link between good quality housing, academic outcomes and stronger communities.
Andy Ewart - Executive Director of Corporate Services
Our Executive Director of Corporate Services, Andy Ewart, is a qualified chartered accountant with an MBA from Manchester Business School who began his career in the financial services sector before progressing to senior roles within the higher education and not-for-profit sectors.
Andy has worked for FCHO since 2019 and holds strategic responsibility for our financial viability and is the Deputy CEO. Andy leads FCHO’s colleagues and resources associated with Finance, ICT, Business Intelligence, Project Management, People and Culture and Development and Asset Investment Strategy.
Jayne Lawson - Executive Director of Customer Experience and lead for Consumer Standards compliance
Jayne is responsible for the customer-facing side of our business, with a focus on delivering excellent customer experience for everyone who lives in an FCHO home.
She leads our Communities, Digital and Technology, Legal Services and Asset Investment Delivery teams.
Jayne has extensive experience in the housing sector, having started out as a housing officer at aged just 16.
Since then she has worked across a variety of tenancy, neighbourhood, asset strategy and property services roles in regional and national housing providers.
Her strengths lie in connecting with people, problem solving and innovation to provide excellent customer and colleague experience.
Our Directors
Maria Cook
Director of Finance
Our Director of Finance, Maria Cook, has been with FCHO since 2011 and has most recently been our Head of Finance. Maria provides financial ...
Our Director of Finance, Maria Cook, has been with FCHO since 2011 and has most recently been our Head of Finance.
Maria provides financial leadership, continuity and consistency for the business as we keep on delivering our Big Plan priorities.
Bharat Velji
Director of Digital and Technology
As our Director of Digital and Technology, Bharat is leading the development and execution of our ICT and Digital Strategy and managing the ...
As our Director of Digital and Technology, Bharat is leading the development and execution of our ICT and Digital Strategy and managing the organisation’s systems and technology operations.
He has worked for FCHO for over ten years and has been our Head of ICT between 2022 and 2024. He has a wealth of experience in IT infrastructure, cyber security, disaster recovery, systems and IT operations.
Bharat has led many technology enhancements and transformations to keep the organisation at the forefront of technology and market trends.
Catherine Farrington
Director of Governance Risk and Assurance
Catherine has a wealth of experience in governance, regulation, and legal affairs within the housing sector. Her background includes consult...
Catherine has a wealth of experience in governance, regulation, and legal affairs within the housing sector.
Her background includes consultancy roles with housing associations, charities, and local authorities on governance and regulatory matters, as well as senior leadership positions at Onward Homes and the Regulator of Social Housing.
Catherine’s role at FCHO is critical to ensuring our governance structures are effective, risks and controls are appropriately managed and assurance processes are in place to support our success.
Christina Todd
Director of Communities
Christina leads our Customer Services, Income Collection, Tenancies and Neighbourhoods, and Community Services teams. With over 17 years in ...
Christina leads our Customer Services, Income Collection, Tenancies and Neighbourhoods, and Community Services teams. With over 17 years in housing, she’s progressed from frontline roles to senior leadership, bringing practical experience and a strong commitment to listening to customers and shaping services around what matters to them. She has worked for both community-based and national housing associations and is passionate about delivering outstanding services, championing community safety and supporting customers.
Outside of work, Christina enjoys family time and long walks with her dog.
Neil Marsh
Director of Repairs and Maintenance
Neil leads our Repairs and Maintenance services, including our Property Care and Neighbourhood Care teams. With more than 20 years' experien...
Neil leads our Repairs and Maintenance services, including our Property Care and Neighbourhood Care teams. With more than 20 years' experience in housing, he has worked for both regional and national providers, including Jigsaw, Great Places and Guinness Property. His expertise spans responsive repairs and maintenance, empty homes, complex repairs, grounds maintenance and caretaking, giving him a strong understanding of how these services work together to deliver excellent outcomes for customers.
Having lived in Oldham for most of his life, Neil is passionate about providing high-quality, customer-focused services and continually improving the homes and neighbourhoods we manage. He joined us as Head of Property Care in June 2025 before being appointed Director of Repairs and Maintenance.
Outside of work, Neil enjoys spending time with family, walking his dog, cycling, training and competing in triathlons, going to the gym, fishing and travel.
Dean Tracey
Director of Building Safety
Dean leads our Health and Safety, Building Safety and Property Compliance teams. His background includes a number of leadership roles within...
Dean leads our Health and Safety, Building Safety and Property Compliance teams. His background includes a number of leadership roles within the housing sector, working in community-based housing associations as well as large national housing providers. Dean’s role at FCHO is to ensure we provide safe homes for our customers that are compliant with relevant legislation and safety standards.
Outside of work Dean enjoys watching and coaching football, going to the gym and spending time with family.