Housing sector data and insight provider HouseMark Scotland has this week appointed its first chairperson.

During its meeting yesterday, HouseMark Scotland’s Advisory Board confirmed the appointment of Hanover (Scotland) Housing Association chief executive, Helen Murdoch, to the new role with immediate effect.

Helen Murdoch has been chief executive of Hanover Scotland since 2007 and first joined the housing association in 1995 as director of housing and care services. With more than 36 years’ experience in social housing, she became a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Housing in 1989, completed an MBA in 1993 and is also a member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and an Associate Member of the Institute of Personnel Development.

The appointment of Helen Murdoch as chair takes place as HouseMark Scotland continues to grow its membership of registered social landlords across local authorities and housing associations and looks forward to a busy programme of events, specialist clubs and new product launches during the coming year.

Commenting on her appointment, Helen Murdoch said: “I’m delighted to be taking on the role of chair at HouseMark Scotland at a time when its influence and reach across the Scottish housing sector is continuing to grow very quickly. As someone who has always taken an active interest in strategic and business management, I know from first-hand experience the excellent service and support HouseMark is able to offer its members.

“Given the myriad of challenges the housing sector currently faces, from increasing housing supply to managing assets effectively, from delivering value for money for tenants to driving improvements in efficiency, the role HouseMark Scotland plays in providing robust data and strategic insight has never been more important.”

Head of HouseMark Scotland, Kirsty Wells, added: “It’s fantastic to be able to welcome someone with Helen’s excellent reputation, breadth and depth of knowledge, and experience as our first chair. As we continue to grow our membership in Scotland, it’s important for the Scotland Advisory Board to further reinforce its strategic capabilities with this new appointment.

“Given our shared goal of achieving excellence in social housing through the promotion of proactive business improvement solutions that drive efficiency and value for money, I am sure Helen will make a great contribution to HouseMark Scotland’s ongoing success, during 2017 and beyond.”