Two more join Gentoo board

Sunderland-based housing association Gentoo Group has appointed two new members to its board.

Alison Fellows and Emily Cox join 10 others on the board and will help determine the vision and strategic direction of the group and scrutinise its performance.

Alison, who is investment director at Tees Valley Combined Authority, has eight years experience as a nonexecutive director with the North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust.

She previously worked as executive director of commercial development for Sunderland City Council and as assistant director of capital investment for Newcastle City Council.

Emily Cox is director of public affairs at Virgin Money and has a background in HR and law.

She sits on the boards of The Sage Gateshead and NewcastleGateshead Initiative and was recently appointed as chairman of the North East Confederation of British Industry.

Alison said: “This gives me an opportunity to try to put something back into the North East by using my commercial, legal and governance experience to make a difference to people’s lives at a community and individual level.”

Emily added: “Social housing is critically important and more must be done to tackle the shortage of good-quality, affordable housing. Housing associations have a key role to play in that and in helping to revive the local economy and build stronger, more diverse communities.”

Gentoo Group manages more than 28,000 social housing properties in Sunderland and has a commercial arm.