THFC appoints two new Executive board members and new Group Treasurer
The Housing Finance Corporation Limited (THFC) has today announced the internal appointments of two new Executive board members, alongside the internal appointment of a new Group Treasurer.
THFC is pleased to announce the appointment of Arun Poobalasingam and David Stokes as Executive Directors to the board, effective 28 July 2023. As of today, 1 August 2023, Arun has taken on a new role as Funding and Marketing Director, having joined THFC in 2021 after several years at HSBC. David has successfully served as THFC’s Credit and Risk Director since 2012 and remains in this role.
THFC is also pleased to appoint Will Stevenson as its new Group Treasurer, as of today, 1 August 2023. Will will have day-to-day responsibility for fund raising, as well as managing relationships with THFC’s investors.
The additions of Arun and David to the board and Will as Group Treasurer follow the stepping down of Fenella Edge from the board of directors and as THFC’s Group Treasurer. In keeping with THFC’s longstanding succession plan, Arun replaces Fenella’s board capacity and Will takes over her organisational duties as Group Treasurer.
Fenella Edge has announced her retirement after a long and impactful career in the social housing sector, having spent the last 20 years at THFC. Fenella helped lead THFC through significant change and growth throughout her two decades at the organisation. Her accomplishments include fostering a relationship with the European Investment Bank, resulting in c.£2.5billion of long-term funding at below market rates, issuing over £4.8billion of bonds in the sterling capital markets and managing the delivery of over £3.2billion of long-term funding at record low rates through the Affordable Housing Guarantee Scheme. Fenella will be greatly missed and everyone at THFC wishes her the very best in her next chapter.
Piers Williamson, Chief Executive of THFC, said: “It is with mixed feelings that I say goodbye to Fenella after working together so successfully for 20 years. Together, we have put in place a very strong business model – the most successful debt aggregator in the market, and it is time to take that model to the next level. This model reflects both our whole team expertise, the very long-term trusted relationships we have with our clients, and their changing needs in the years to come. Arun, David and Will each share our vision, passion and skill to carry the business forward.”
Fenella Edge, former Group Treasurer at THFC, said: “It has been an absolute privilege to be involved with the social housing sector through THFC for so many years. We are so rooted in the sector and our values run parallel with those of our customers. We are so much more than just a provider of finance to our RP customers – we are a cheerleader, a supporter, a partner and an advocate.”
Notes to Editors
About THFC: The Housing Finance Corporation (THFC) is the UK’s leading affordable housing aggregator, with over £8bn of lending to around 160 housing associations in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. THFC was set up in 1987 in partnership with the National Housing Federation and what was the Housing Corporation. It now also operates through its subsidiary company, bLEND, which was established in 2018. As a not-for-profit, the group’s surpluses are retained and reinvested to ensure THFC can continue to provide competitively priced funding for HAs long into the future. THFC’s track record of innovation includes some of the earliest green finance products for retrofit and sustainable developments.
For further information contact:
Arun Poobalasingam, Funding and Marketing Director – – arun.poobalasingam@thfcorp.com
Danielle Hughes, ESG Strategy and Communications Manager – Danielle.Hughes@thfcorp.com