Our team

Our team

settle is a team of about 250 colleagues who are passionate about housing and the power it has to transform people’s lives.

executive directors

CEO, Gavin Cansfield
Gavin Cansfield,
chief executive and
board member
Fiona Coulson,
executive director –
development
Executive director of finance and resources, Ebele Akojie
Ebele Akojie,
executive director –
finance and resources
Jesse Meek, executive director of asset strategy and sustainability at settle
Jesse Meek, executive director – asset strategy and sustainability
Dean Anderson, executive director of customer service
Dean Anderson, executive director – customer services

board members

Chair, Sally Veitch

Sally Veitch (chair)

Sally is an established Non-Executive Director, being part of a number of boards including Non-Executive Director and Chair of Risk at H&T, Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit Committee and Remuneration Committee of Perenna Bank PLC , and Non-Executive Director and Chair of Audit for Tipton & Coseley Building Society. A former Finance Director with strong customer-focused experience, including 15 years at Home Retail Group, Sally has over 20 years of experience in advising both small and large retail and financial services companies in fast-paced and regulated environments.

Vice-chair, Andrew Foster

Andrew Foster (vice-chair)

Andrew joined our board in September 2021. He has worked as a self-employed Governance Consultant since 2019. He has 20 years of Board level experience as a Company Secretary/Solicitor, with experience of working in both the private and third sectors, and has 15 years of experience of working in the Housing sector. He has worked as both an executive and non-executive director. A qualified lawyer by training, Andrew has had direct responsibility and leadership for a broad range of functions including Corporate Strategy, Business Planning; Legal; Governance and Company Secretarial; Risk and Audit; Procurement; Health and Safety; Insurance and Facilities Management.

Board member, Elizabeth Froude

 Elizabeth Froude

Elizabeth is Chief Executive of Platform Housing Group, was former Deputy CEO at Notting Hill Genesis, and was a member of the executive board. Although her background is in finance, she has spent many years with very operationally focused, change management, and transformational roles. Prior to coming to housing, she had roles in varied sectors, from entertainment to manufacturing, working with teams across the UK and Europe mostly for well-known FTSE organisations. She is chair of settle’s audit and risk committee.

Board member, Hasani Jess

Hasani Jess

Hasani was appointed as a Board member on 26th January 2021, bringing digital and technology leadership expertise, with 20 years of experience in the technology sector.

Board member, Jane Porter

 Jane Porter

Jane joined our board in September 2021. She is the Chief Operating Officer at Southern Housing (formerly Optivo), has worked in housing for over 30 years, and has held senior executive roles in housing management, asset management, development, and homeownership.

Jane is passionate about delivering excellent customer service. She has delivered sector-leading performance through the use of real-time data, segmentation, and customer insight. She has driven continuous improvement and efficiencies through her vision and enthusiasm for technology solutions including predictive analytics, RPA, AI, IoT, and bots.

Board member, Shamez Alibhai

Shamez Alibhai

Shamez Alibhai joined our board in September 2021. He is Head of Community Housing and Portfolio Manager at Man Global Private Markets (‘Man GPM’) and is a member of Man Group’s Responsible Investment Committee. He is responsible for managing the Man GPM RI Community Housing Fund and leading the business, team, and strategy.

Danny Sutcliffe

Danny started his career in housing at the Housing Corporation as the 1988 Housing Act transformed the way affordable housing was delivered in England. He worked for several Housing Associations and affordable housing contractors before setting up Red Loft, growing the business to a 50 strong team today.

He has continued to work for a range of contractors, developers, housing associations and local authorities managing regeneration projects and securing and delivering large and small developments.

As well as project management, his work has involved managing teams and effecting change management. Danny now oversees a group of commissions and a team of consultants working on a range of projects from site finding, S106 Financial Viability Assessment, closing deals, securing planning through to on-site delivery as well as policy and procedure work including OJEU Frameworks, training on bid writing and a multitude of legacy projects.

He has provided support at a senior executive level to several local authorities setting up Housing or Development Companies. He has also set up the sales and marketing division which now has a current pipeline of over 1,300 homes. 

Board & Committee declaration of interests

Our performance

Building more homes

Our values