Jim Strang

Mr Strang – who has more than 40 years’ experience within the housing sector – has replaced current chair Duncan McEachran whose five-year maximum tenure came to an end in September. 

Mr Strang, who served as president of the Chartered Institute of Housing in 2018/19, has held a number of key strategic and managerial roles within the housing sector over the past 40 years. 

His career began in 1978 at Glasgow City Council and from there he took on a number of roles in the delivery of housing services within several local authorities before being appointed as group chief executive of Parkhead Housing Association in 2007. 

In 2020 he retired from full-time employment but has continued to serve on the boards of several organisations including Ferguslie Park Housing Association, The New Tannahill Centre and Homeless Network Scotland. 

Mr Strang is now looking forward to getting started in the role.

He said: “We already do great work at Riverside Scotland and support our customers in many ways. However, we can always get better and that’s what we’ll continue to do. 

“As we emerge from the pandemic, we’ll be providing even more care and support for our tenants and I believe new technology will continue to play a vital role as we further improve our services. There are a number of exciting and innovative projects underway and I look forward to the delivery of 300 new affordable homes that we are completing in the next couple of years, as well as continuing to play our part in eradicating homelessness.” 

Acting managing director of Riverside Scotland, Morag Hutchinson, said: “We’d like to thank our former chair Duncan McEachran for his dedicated service over the past five years, and to welcome Jim Strang as chair of our board. His experience in the sector over many decades will be of great value to us moving forward.”