The Abbeyfield Society appoints new chief executive

The Abbeyfield Society has appointed Paul Tennant, leader of The Law Society, as its new chief executive.

Mr Tennant, who has been chief executive at the society for the past five years, will begin his new role in January where his new role sees him making a return to the housing sector, where he has spent most of his career to date.

Mr Tennant said: "Housing remains a key interest for me, especially services for older people. The role of chief executive for the Abbeyfield Living Society is an opportunity too good to pass up."

His credentials include leading property management and development companies, working with housing associations, charities, communities, government and local authorities, funders and property developers. He was formerly president of the Chartered Institute of Housing and received an OBE in 2016 for services to Housing.

Mr Tennant added: “In all of my roles I have sought to create and lead effective organisations and stretch them to do more; developing people and teams to maximise their potential and impact they can have; in the housing sector this has been to support excluded and disadvantaged groups to make a real difference to their lives and choices.”

Established in 1956, The Abbeyfield Society is a charity for older people, providing housing and residential care. The Abbeyfield Society has over 100 managed properties in the UK and serves as an umbrella body for 145 Abbeyfield member societies that manage more than 370 properties across the UK and internationally.

The Abbeyfield Society chair, Jenny Lawrence, said: “We are delighted to have found in Paul a very experienced and knowledgeable chief executive who will be able to continue to drive and deliver our ambitions for growth across care and housing services for older people.”

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