Mr Devlin, a qualified chartered accountant and partner at Azets, first joined Hanover’s board in 2013.

He replaces Mike Martin, who was chair of Hanover from 2014 to 2021 and a board member of Hanover for the last 16 years.

Mike Martin, outgoing Hanover chair, said: “It has been a privilege to serve as chair of Hanover Scotland for so many years. Over that time the organisation has changed beyond recognition. We now serve more people, provide more services and operate in more areas of Scotland than ever before.

“There is more change on the horizon as we seek to meet the dual challenges of housing shortages and financial as well as staffing pressures on the care sector.

“I know that Hanover will be at the forefront of meeting those challenges and, with Gary at the helm, will continue to innovate and find new ways to meet the changing needs of our customers and tenants alike.”

Mr Devlin brings considerable experience to the role. For over 20 years, he has delivered public sector internal audit, external audit and advisory services to public sector and charity organisations across the UK. He is a past chair of CIPFA Scotland and a member of the Local Authority (Scotland) Accounts Advisory Board.

Gary Devlin, Hanover chair, added: “I’m very honoured to be taking the leadership at Hanover Scotland after several years on the board. Mike leaves a considerable legacy and I thank him for his contributions to the growth and development of Hanover Scotland under his leadership.

“Strategically this is a very important time for the housing sector and Hanover Scotland needs to continue on a course of innovation, adaptability and resilience. Clearly, recovery from the pandemic is paramount and will be a key priority in the immediate future.

“We also welcome the increasing focus on health and social care in Scotland and look forward to involvement in the next phase of policy making, particularly in regard to the development of a National Care Service.”