Kerslake: first head for Homes and Communities Agency

Published	18 December 2007

Sir Bob Kerslake will be the first Chief Executive of the new Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), the Government announced today.

The new agency will be key to delivering the 3 million new homes by 2020 pledged by the Prime Minister.

Sir Bob, currently Chief Executive of Sheffield City Council, will initially take responsibility for overseeing the development and implementation of the agency, and will then become its first Chief Executive when the agency begins operating on 1 April 2009.

Sir Bob said:

"I am delighted to be taking on this uniquely challenging and demanding post at the centre of the Government's agenda. It is vitally important that everyone has access to a decent home at a price they can afford, in a place where they want to live and work, and I am looking forward to leading the Homes and Communities Agency to make this a reality."

Housing and Planning Minister Yvette Cooper said:

"The HCA is vital to delivering the new homes this country desperately needs.

"Bob is an excellent person for the job. He has the skills, experience and leadership the new agency needs. His knowledge of local government will be particularly valuable in his new role."

The agency will combine the work of English Partnerships, the Housing Corporation and the housing and regeneration delivery functions of Communities and Local Government.

Sir Bob is expected to take up the post in March 2008.

Biography

Career

May 1997 - present Chief Executive of Sheffield City Council

May 1991 - May 1997 Chief Executive of London Borough of Hounslow

Feb 1989 - May 1991 Borough Treasurer, London Borough of Hounslow

Apr 1986 - Feb 1989 Assistant Director of Inner London Education Authority

Education

1982 Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy

1978 University of Warwick: First Class Honours in Mathematics

1967 - 1974 Blue School, Wells

Sir Bob is married with two children

Notes to editors

1. The Homes and Communities Agency (then Communities England) was announced by the then Secretary of State Ruth Kelly on 17 January 2007 www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmhansrd/cm070117/wmstext/70117m0001.htm#07011781000001 (external link).

2. More information about the agency can be found here: www.communities.gov.uk/housing/strategiesandreviews/homesandcommunities.

3. The proposals for setting up the new agency are outlined in the Housing and Regeneration Bill which is currently before Parliament.