Meet the team
Board of Directors
Brian Johnson
Chair of the Group Board
Brian brings a wealth of sector expertise, having held senior management and non-executive positions within the housing, social care and commercial sectors. He was Chief Executive at CityWest Homes, Moat Homes Ltd and at Metropolitan Housing Trust. In addition, Brian was previously a Non-Executive Director at North Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. Brian retired from the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency in October 2022, where he was CEO for four years.
Sacha Jevans
Group Managing Director and Board Member
Sacha is Group Managing Director providing strategic direction and continuity to the Group’s organisational structure. She is an experienced leader having held a range of executive and non-executive roles in the public and private sectors and brings experience of setting up a subsidiary company within a group structure combined with expertise in delivering complex business change projects.
Ian Johnson
Board Member and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee
Ian brings much knowledge and experience to the Board. He is a qualified Chartered Accountant and has extensive experience working in senior finance roles, including as Chief Finance Officer at one of the country’s largest housing associations. Ian has also held a number of non-executive and trustee roles with charities. Ian is chair of the Audit and Risk Committee.
Farooq Mohammed
Board Member and Chair of the Remuneration and Nominations Committee
A chartered property professional, Farooq brings over 25 years’ experience as a strategic leader and Non-Executive Director. He has deep knowledge and expertise in public sector property services and asset management combined with strong commercial acumen gained in senior executive positions with two FTSE listed construction, infrastructure and energy services companies. Farooq is also adviser to government on SME inclusion and procurement regulations within public sector supply chains, and jointly leads a national membership network supporting local authority trading companies. He is also a passionate advocate for increased diversity within corporate supply chains. Farooq is chair of the Remuneration and Nominations Committee.
Councillor Richard Bassett
Board Member
Councillor Bassett has been a District councillor at Epping Forest District Council for 13 years and has served on the Council’s Cabinet for eight years and as Chairman of Overview and Scrutiny and Chairman of Council for two years. He is currently Chairman of Stronger Places Select Committee and brings a wealth of experience on local planning, sustainability and transport issues. Cllr Bassett’s professional career spans over 40 years as an executive in the IT sector working for blue chip companies in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. His outside activities include being Chairman of trustees for Epping Forest and Harlow Community Transport and Chairman of the Business Advisory group for New City College.
Georgina Blakemore
Board Member
Georgina is Chief Executive of Epping Forest District Council. She brings significant strategic leadership experience to the Board of Qualis gained in both local government and senior executive positions in her commercial career where she developed expertise in setting up and running successful businesses within the retail sector. As CEO of the Group’s shareholder, she plays a significant role in supporting the Group’s development whilst ensuring that effective governance, community benefit and commercial return on investment is achieved for Epping Forest District residents, businesses and communities.
Councillor Howard Kauffman
Board Member
Councillor Kauffman brings over 30 years’ experience working within the London Commercial Investment and Development market specialising in strategic advice, investment acquisitions and disposals and large-scale regeneration projects. He brings excellent working knowledge of property values, investment yields and market risks and is well versed in undertaking due diligence in respect of property acquisitions, both from a technical and legal perspective. He was first elected to Epping Forest District Council in 2014 and is a member of the District Development Management Committee.
Alan Townshend
Board Member
Alan brings a wealth of operational and strategic knowledge to the Board. He has extensive experience in regeneration and development having spent more than 35 years in the social housing sector, including as the former Chief Executive Officer of one of the UK’s largest affordable housing providers. Previous roles held in the sector include Group Development Director, Asset Investment Director and Group Regional Director. He is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Housing.
Andy Howarth
Group Finance Director and Board member
Andy is a qualified accountant with experience in the private, health and social housing sectors. His experience includes more than 20 years in senior roles in a number of housing associations, most of which with ambitious development programmes. Andy brings key skills in governance, treasury, planning and development which complement the existing Executive Management team and Board.
Executive Management Team
Sacha Jevans
Group Managing Director
Sacha is Group Managing Director providing strategic direction and continuity to the Group’s organisational structure. She is an experienced leader having held a range of executive and non-executive roles in the public and private sectors and brings experience of setting up a subsidiary company within a group structure combined with expertise in delivering complex business change projects. Sacha is member of the Group and its subsidiary Boards.
Ben Johnson
Managing Director, Qualis Property Solutions
Ben is a Fellow of the RICS and has extensive leadership experience of working in executive and non-executive roles. This has been gained through a mix of roles in housing associations, charities and consultancy. He has significant experience of managing residential homes in the social housing sector context, including leading successful in-sourced maintenance services. Ben is a Director of, and sits on, the Qualis Property Solutions Board.
Simon Rutter
Managing Director, Qualis Commercial
Simon is a Chartered Surveyor with over 25 years’ regeneration development and investment experience. He has spent most of his career in the Plc property world delivering projects across a broad range of commercial and residential uses. His particular focus has been with joint ventures alongside both funding partners, local authorities and public sector bodies. Simon believes that local community engagement is important for the future of our towns and cities. Simon is a Director of, and sits on, the Qualis Commercial Board.
Kat Worth
Director of Corporate Services
Kat is a Chartered Secretary with extensive experience gained in a variety of roles in the not-for profit, charitable and commercial housing sectors. This has been gained through leadership of a number of multi-disciplined teams within corporate services, legal and governance departments.
Andy Howarth
Group Finance Director
Andy is a qualified accountant with experience in the private, health and social housing sectors. His experience includes more than 20 years in senior roles in a number of housing associations, most of which with ambitious development programmes. Andy brings key skills in governance, treasury, planning and development which complement the existing Executive Management Team and Board. Andy is a member of the Group and its subsidiary Boards.
