Two appointed to board of UK's largest association

Julia Middleton, chief executive of Common Purpose, an organisation that campaigns for better leadership, and John Belcher, Anchor Trust chief executive, are statutory appointees nominated by the Housing Corporation.

The regulator hopes the pair will help solve the governance crisis at Places for People, the UK's largest registered social landlord: it is under corporation supervision in the aftermath of a boardroom row (HT 17 October, page 7).

Places for People chair Sebert Cox said: "We look forward to working with Middleton and Belcher in the next few months and their combined experience will add value as we progress and complete our governance review." The association is running its own, simultaneous, "root and branch" review of governance. It has hired consultant Sue Goss from the Office of Public Management and researchers from the Institute of Directors to carry it out.

This review, commissioned three months ago – before the row became public – will cover all aspects of governance including what is required from board members and the information they need to do their jobs well.

Chief executive David Cowans said: "The review will start off with asking, 'what's the board's main task in life and what do we need in place to deliver?' It's a pretty detailed root and branch review of what promotes good governance.

It’s a pretty detailed review of what promotes good governance. I hope it will be useful for others

David Cowans, Places for People

"I hope it will be useful for others considering the same matters."

One contentious issue the review will consider is the group's complex structure. The two statutory appointees face a tough task coming to grips with this.

The group's main board, which has three key sub-committees, sets strategy for its nine main subsidiaries. But the group also has 40 shareholding members, drawn mainly from the boards of Places for People's subsidiaries.