Patel to take early retirement 

Shaukat Moledina, Group Chairman, said: “We are sorry to lose Atul. He has achieved a great deal both within the Group and the housing sector generally.     

“Joining ASRA Greater London Housing Association in 2001, he led it to great things. Subsequently he helped create the LHA-ASRA Group bringing together both Leicester Housing Association and Family First to create a unique organisation, and steering it through a period of substantial change and development.

“He is much respected and his excellent reputation extends beyond the Group. He will be missed by both the Board and his colleagues, and we all wish him well for his retirement.”

Atul Patel said: “Over the last three decades, I’ve had the great privilege of holding positions in the Cabinet Office, Housing Corporation and the BME sector at significant moments in the development of the housing sector.

“Having firmly established the Group, with a new Chair, new Executive team and a clear sense of direction, I now wish to devote more of my time to other interests, whilst continuing to remain active in the sector. I am grateful to the Board for agreeing to my early retirement and wish LHA-ASRA every success in the years ahead.”

His retirement takes effect from 31 December 2009 and the search for his successor is underway.  In the interim, the Group Chairman with the Executive team will ensure business continuity.

In the last 12 months, LHA-ASRA has: 

• Secured £27m of additional Social Housing Grant, doubling its allocation
• Successfully absorbed homes and tenancies from Black Roof HA following their

transfer by the Tenant Services Authority

• Been awarded full TSA (Telecare Services Association) accreditation for Service 24, its telecare support and out-of-hours response service

• Delivered significant service improvements flowing directly from major

customer-led reviews

• Involved residents directly in recruitment for front-line posts in its

Neighbourhood Services, Empty Homes, Service 24 and Customer

Contact Centre teams

• Seen its resident involvement programme cited nationally as a best practice area
• Achieved ‘2009 Top 50 Call Centre for Customer Service’ status for its Customer Contact Centre
• Achieved ‘One to watch’ status in the Sunday Times 2009 ‘Best Companies Survey’