Our Executive Team
Our Executive Team
Our Executive is the most senior management team below the Board. They are responsible for managing SettleParadigm and for the effective delivery of our strategy. Each Executive Director leads their own directorates.
Matthew Bailes
Chief Executive
I am ultimately responsible for delivering SettleParadigm’s objectives. This means ensuring that we deliver excellent services, high quality homes, our residents live in neighbourhoods we are proud of, and that we are building as many new genuinely affordable homes as we can.
I was Chief Executive of Paradigm from 2015 up to the point of merger with Settle. Before that I led the Social Housing Regulator, and before that I was responsible for policy on affordable housing in Government. I have also stepped in as a Non-Executive Director in a couple of providers with serious problems, and I chair a group of large South-East providers that campaigns on housing issues.
I think access to safe, secure and affordable housing makes a huge difference to people’s life chances. When I worked on housing policy in Government, I became convinced that the current housing system is letting down far too many people, and in particular far too many children and young adults. Since then, I’ve been trying to do something about it.
Nicola Ewen
Deputy CEO and Chief Financial Officer
I am responsible for the financial leadership of the Group and the delivery of key financial plans and services that support strategic objectives, fulfil our vision and maintain our values. My role is to develop and deliver the Group’s financial strategy and ensure we are financially viable.
I am an ACCA qualified accountant who has worked in senior strategic roles within the sector for many years. I had been CFO at Paradigm for six and a half years before we became SettleParadigm and was Director of Financial Services at Notting Hill Genesis for five years before that. I have also been a Board member at Grand Union Housing Group and am currently a Trustee at the Chiltern Neuro Centre.
I am passionate about doing as much as I can to help solve the housing crisis. Working in the social housing sector gives me an opportunity to use my commercial expertise to deliver for a social purpose.
Alan Townshend
Executive Director, Integration and Change
As Executive Director, Integration and Change, my primary responsibility is to develop and deliver an effective integration of the Settle and Paradigm businesses. In the temporary absence of a new Chief Information Officer, I will be responsible for the teams working in Business Transformation and IT.
I have been involved in a number of mergers of differing size and complexity between housing associations over the duration of my career. I have worked on mergers that have taken 12 months or three years to fully integrate. Setting the right pace and getting things right are of paramount importance to us.
I spent my childhood in social housing. Now, I passionately believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to have a decent, safe, warm and affordable place they can come home to. The housing shortage has gone beyond being called a crisis. I want to see SettleParadigm play its part helping to increase housing supply and in doing so, providing hope for people that want and need to have a place they can home.
Dean Anderson
Executive Director of Customer Services
I am the Executive Director of Customer Services, which means I am responsible for all housing and customer related services. I am also the responsible officer for complaints and lead on the Consumer Standards set by the Regulator of Social Housing.
I have been in Senior Management positions in social housing for 14 years with the last three years at Settle, being responsible for operational landlord services and more recently assets and repairs.
I work in social housing because through lived experience I know we make a positive difference to people’s lives, which is hugely motivating and rewarding.
Justin McCarthy
Executive Director of Property
I am the Executive Director of Property and I have overall responsibility for management of all SettleParadigm’s existing assets, including repairs, re-investment, compliance, communities, and our fleet of vans and technicians.
I have over 25 years’ experience in local authority, ALMO and housing association settings. I have played a key role in large-scale stock swaps, acquisitions, IT transformations and complex projects and have a keen interest in decarbonisation and green initiatives, excellent customer services, and proactive data insight.
I have previously served in non-executive director roles and I’m currently on the Board of Co-Op Homes (subsidiary of Richmond Housing Partnership) I joined in Sept 2024 to increase scrutiny and understanding of CHP’s asset management and compliance delivery.
Martyn Jones
Executive Director Development and Regeneration
I am responsible for a team of property professionals that are seeking to build at least 500 new homes per year. The team has responsibility for identifying, securing and then managing the building of new homes, ensuring that they are ready for occupation by those that need them most, and are of a quality that will stand the test of time. I am also responsible for the SettleParadigm Regeneration programme, there is the added focus on evaluating and progressing Regeneration of existing assets that may offer opportunities to provide more and better homes than we currently manage.
As a Chartered Surveyor and Town Planner, I have worked for a Local Authority leading the Strategic Asset Management and Development functions, and before that, I worked as a Planning & Development consultant, advising mainly public sector organisations how to better use their property, be that through redevelopment or reinvestment.
Having spent the first half of my career working in the private sector, I love that I am now working for a Charity that reinvests its surpluses to ensure that we not only maintain our existing homes to a good standard, but that we are making a tangible difference by providing as many new homes as possible for people that would not otherwise be able to put down roots and sustain stable lives.
Sarah Nickson
Executive Director People, Strategy and Corporate Services
My role is to lead key business partnering and support functions including People, Communications, Strategy and Policy, Health, Legal and Safety, Facilities and Governance and Procurement. I’m responsible for ensuring that corporate services are aligned with our charitable purpose to deliver excellent services, high quality homes, neighbourhoods we can be proud of and maximising the number of new affordable homes we build.
I was at Paradigm for over eight years, leading the broad range of corporate services functions and developing our in-house expertise and the business partnering service to the organisation. Before joining Paradigm in 2017, I held both People and broader business roles across a range of sectors including Information Technology and financial services.
My main passion for social housing lies in working for an organisation that creates safe, inclusive communities where everyone has access to a secure and affordable home. I’m driven by the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives by being part of shaping services that promote dignity, stability and long-term wellbeing.