Two Rivers Housing has announced Ted Pearce will become its new Chair in October.

Ted was appointed as Chair designate in April, following a rigorous recruitment process and he will replace Yvonne Leishman who is stepping down at the end of her term

He has served on the board of the housing association since 2019 and currently leads the Two Rivers Development Board. He has more than 40 years’ experience in the property sector and was the Director of Strategic Asset Management at Orbit Housing Association until he made the decision to focus on his non-executive work in 2024.

As a Chartered Surveyor and a fellow of both the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA), Ted has a real passion for community-based housing providers. 

Yvonne, who was awarded an OBE in 2005 for services to social housing, joined the housing association’s Group Board in 2017 and was appointed as Chair the following year.

She will work alongside Ted over the next few months to ensure a smooth handover.

Hayley Selway, Chief Executive of Two Rivers Housing said: “Yvonne has been a fantastic Chair for this organisation. Over the last six years, she has guided us through two IDAs and been a real advocate for keeping tenants at the heart of Two Rivers Housing. I’d like to thank her for everything she has done for our organisation and wish her a long and happy retirement.

 “Replacing Yvonne was always going to be challenging, but we were fortunate to have some excellent candidates apply for the role. Following the recruitment process, we have appointed Ted Pearce to the position. 

“During the interview process, Ted set out his ambitions for Two Rivers Housing and a clear commitment to helping us become the best community-based housing association in the UK. Alongside this, his knowledge and experience of the property and construction industries together with the housing sector, meant he stood out as the best candidate for the job.

Two Rivers Housing provides more than 4,400 homes for families across the Forest and the surrounding area.