Martin, who has dedicated 22 years to BCHA, with the last 16 years at the helm as CEO, has been at the forefront of driving BCHA’s mission to end homelessness. His pioneering leadership, extraordinary vision and unwavering determination has steered BCHA through a period of significant change, while ensuring that delivering excellence to customers remains at the heart of the organisation.
BCHA colleagues, who have been part of the journey of growth and transformation under Martin’s leadership, have been thanking him for his commitment, support and encouragement.
BCHA’s Chief Operating Officer, Caroline Moylan said: “What has made Martin’s time as CEO special is his dedication to ending homelessness and for that mission to be at the heart of everything BCHA does. He leaves having achieved much success and has truly changed lives for the better. As we look forwards to the future, we will continue to build on the strong sense of purpose that Martin has established as we continue in our mission to provide more permanent homes for our customers.”
Head of Strategy and Governance, Phillip Baker, said: “Martin and I first joined BCHA way back in the year 2000, when the organisation was certainly a lot smaller than today. Over the time I have known him, I have always been impressed by his dedication to the well-being of our customers and customer-facing colleagues. He is a passionate and vocal advocate for those who find themselves homeless. The steady growth in our accommodation and services over the years is a testament to Martin’s drive to address these social issues.”
Chair of BCHA’s Board, Mike Wood, said: “Martin has been a fantastic Chief Executive, always making sure we meet our objectives and going the extra mile to get out to visit our services, keeping in touch with our colleagues and customers. We will miss him."
Speaking on his final day at BCHA, Martin took time to reflect on his service as Chief Executive.
He said: “It has been a privilege to lead BCHA as CEO for almost 16 years. The energy, compassion and commitment of colleagues across the organisation, especially during the challenges of the past few years, has motivated me every day to ensure our customers continue to be the focus of everything that we do. I’m confident that BCHA will continue to thrive and I wish Lorraine Mealings, our new Chief Executive, every success as she drives forward our mission to end homelessness.”
While Martin’s departure represents the end of an era, BCHA is excited to welcome Lorraine Mealings, who will take up the role of Chief Executive on 14 November. Lorraine brings a wealth of sector knowledge and extensive leadership experience to the organisation, having most recently served as Director of Housing for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council.
Lorraine will take over at a critical time, as BCHA prepares to support customers through the cost-of-living crisis, while leading the organisation to the next stage in its development and driving the mission to end homelessness.
She said: “I am delighted to be joining the organisation and look forward to working with colleagues and our partners to get the very best outcomes for our customers. I have worked with BCHA for many years and I am keen to build on its strong reputation and excellent track record.”
For more information, please contact BCHA Communications Manager Victoria Kate via email at Victoriakate@bcha.org.uk or visit www.bcha.org.uk
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