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.
We are currently in a period of transition as our CEO Matthew Bailes has announced he is to step down. Click here for more information.
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
Acting Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer
As Acting CEO during this transition period, I am leading the organisation through this period of integration following the merger of Paradigm and Settle, ensuring we continue to deliver excellent services and high-quality homes.
As CFO, 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’ve been CFO at Paradigm since January 2019 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.
Anne Costain
Interim Chief Financial Officer
As the Interim CFO for SettleParadigm I make sure the organisation is financially viable and our stakeholders and investors have confidence in our ability to meet our financial obligations.
I’ve worked in Finance most of my career, with senior finance roles in Housing for the last 14 years. Prior to this I worked in FTSE 250 and Fortune 500 organisations at senior levels, also in finance.
Why would I want to work anywhere else but in housing? Creating value to build more homes for those who are excluded from the market. My passion is to be commercial for a great cause.
Hannah Manyewu
Interim Executive Director of Customer
I am the Interim Executive Director of Customer for SettleParadigm and was the Executive Director of Customer at Paradigm for over 4 years prior to our merger.
I’m responsible for all customer and housing services as well as complaints and Consumer Standards, set by the Regulator of Social Housing.
I have worked in the social housing sector for 26 years and held leadership roles in national and G15 housing associations prior to Paradigm. I am passionate about providing excellent, efficient housing services and good quality, affordable homes as the stable base from which people build their lives.
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 am also Lead for Health and Safety across the Group.
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.
Martin Medlycott
Chief Information Officer
As Groups CIO I have overall responsibility for our IT Directorate, delivering a range of IT, systems and data services.
ve joined SettleParadigm after serving as CIO and Data Protection Officer at Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing (MTVH). At MTVH I was responsible for designing and delivering a major transformation programme following a merger, modernising core systems, strengthening cyber and data governance, and introducing new IT capabilities.
I also bring extensive experience across multiple sectors, including housing, media, technology, and professional services. I have held senior leadership roles at organisations including DC Thomson / Findmypast, Thomson Reuters, GroupM and Centrica, where I led large-scale digital change, technology strategy and operational modernisation.
Alongside my executive role, I also serve as a Non-Executive Director at Coin Street Community Builders.
Ewan Wallace
Group General Counsel
As the Group General Counsel, I am responsible for the Legal, Governance and Procurement functions. I also lead on significant corporate transactions, including merger & acquisition and stock rationalisation. A solicitor by profession, I entered the social housing sector in 2010 from private practice with the law firm Trowers & Hamlins. Prior to joining Paradigm I worked as Director of Legal & Assurance at Peabody. As someone who has lived in social housing, I know the transformative benefit that a good, affordable and safe home provides.
My career so far has given me significant legal and commercial experience including delivering transformative stock rationalisation projects at Paradigm, including the sector’s largest acquisition tenanted homes, some 3,500 homes from L&Q and a 2,300-home stock swap with The Guinness Partnership. I act as Company Secretary and Data Protection Officer for SettleParadigm and have served as a local authority deputy executive member for housing and assets.