Barry Fowler, Conan McKenzie, Jennifer Murray and Steve Willingham join government-backed £16bn finance initiative.
The government has announced the appointment of four senior executives to the National Housing Bank, who will take up their new roles by the end of September.
The new National Housing Bank is a government-backed financial institution that will provide £16bn through debt, equity and guarantee products to accelerate housing delivery and regeneration across England, with the ability to act where the market can’t.
As well as the public funding, the bank will aim to attract a further £53bn of private capital over the next 10 years, which it will use to build 500,000 new homes.
That couldn’t come soon enough, given the shortfall in new homes being built. Newly published estimates by Savills suggest just over half the homes promised by the government will be built over the next few years.
The National Housing Bank is a company set up through Homes England – the government’s housing and regeneration agency.
Following a rigorous interview and appointments process, the four new executives at the National Housing Bank are:
Barry Fowler, Executive Director, Guarantees
Mr Fowler previously held senior leadership roles at Aviva Investors, where he was responsible for developing and delivering investment strategies across real asset classes. Before that, he was head of corporate real estate at Lloyds Banking Group.
He says: ‘This is a rare opportunity to apply my experience in structured investment leadership to an institution with the scale and ambition to genuinely shift outcomes in the housing market.’
Conan McKenzie, Chief Investment Officer
Currently managing director and portfolio manager at BlackRock, where he has been based since 2011, Mr McKenzie has extensive experience in multi-asset investing and portfolio construction.
He says: ‘We have an incredible opportunity to use our large capital base to make a significant positive impact on housing delivery, along with a positive financial return for the taxpayer. A decent, stable place to call home is the foundation that lets people flourish, and it’s a privilege to use the tools of investment to deliver that for more and more people.’
Jennifer Murray, Executive Director, Equity
Ms Murray is currently director of products, equity and partnerships for Homes England and the National Housing Bank, and has more than 25 years of experience in real estate investment, fund management, and institutional partnerships.
She says: ‘I originally joined Homes England because I believe firmly in the virtuous circle that pension fund and insurance investment in housing can create. Along the way we have built both a team and an investment platform that aligns financial innovation with purpose, delivering outcomes that benefit investors, residents, and society alike. It’s a privilege to continue that mission for the National Housing Bank.’
Steve Willingham, Executive Director, Debt
Mr Willingham as more than 35 years’ experience in real estate finance and is currently head of global investment partnerships – debt at DRC Savills Investment Management.
He says: ‘I am delighted to be joining the National Housing Bank as part of the senior leadership team tasked with accelerating housing delivery across England, building on the groundwork and momentum that has been created already. This is a unique opportunity to make a difference in a nationally important field.’
The four executives join National Housing Bank CEO Simon Century and chair Peter Vernon.
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