By Ian McConnell

BUSINESS economist Jo Armstrong is to take the chair at Wheatley Group, succeeding Alastair MacNish when he retires at the housing, care and property-management organisation’s annual meeting in September.

Ms Armstrong, who joined Glasgow-based Wheatley’s board in 2015 and chairs the group development committee, said: “We have supported tens of thousands of households in hardship across central and southern Scotland during the pandemic and we are determined to contribute creatively to the country’s recovery. This will involve continuing to build, maintain and invest in great affordable homes and – working with Wheatley Care and Wheatley Foundation – to improve the life opportunities of people living in our communities, wherever and whenever we can.”

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Wheatley noted Ms Armstrong’s professional career spanned financial services, the Scottish civil service and charitable sector.

Mr MacNish said: “Jo is a fantastic appointment and was the unanimous choice of the board.”

Wheatley provides homes and services to around 300,000 people in 19 local authority areas across Scotland and includes GHA, the nation’s largest social landlord with 40,000 affordable homes in Glasgow.

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Its other housing operations include Dumfries and Galloway Housing Partnership, and Dunedin Canmore in Edinburgh, the Lothians and Fife.

Ms Armstrong is a panel member of the Competition and Markets Authority, a member of the Water Industry Commission for Scotland, chair of private sector development company Hub West Scotland, and a member of the advisory board of the Institute of Directors in Scotland. Wheatley noted that, previously, Ms Armstrong was a budget adviser to two Scottish parliamentary committees, and chaired regulator Ofgem’s expert panel for its Electricity Network Innovation Fund.