West of Scotland chief executive Brian Gannon announces retirement
Brian Gannon, chief executive officer of West of Scotland Housing Association (WSHA), has announced his plans to retire in Spring 2025.
Brian was appointed to the role of CEO in 2019, with a key aim of his leadership being the building of a strong, values-based, continuous improvement and customer-focused culture within the organisation.
He has also led WSHA through a number of high-profile projects in his five-year tenure, including:
- Guiding the organisation through the unprecedented service disruption caused by the Coronavirus Pandemic, ensuring continuous support for both tenants and staff
- The launch of Glasgow’s largest Passivhaus standard social housing development with Springfield Cross in 2022, followed by the 90 Mid Market Rent Passivhaus homes at Dundashill in summer 2024
- Establishing the Association’s commercial subsidiary, Westscot Living, to oversee all factoring services alongside the management of the Association’s first-ever mid-market rent homes, launched earlier this year
- Managing the transfer of around 500 tenancies from Charing Cross Housing Association to WSHA in 2022
- The launch of WSHA’s first ever Sustainability Strategy, recognising environmental and carbon-reduction issues as key to the Association’s business concerns over the next five years
- An organisation-wide response to the cost-of-living crisis, which saw nearly 400 WSHA tenants receive individualised support on top of that already provided by the Association’s charitable subsidiary, Willowacre Trust. The outcomes of this work will be detailed in a report due later this year.
Of his decision to step down, Brian said: “This hasn’t been an easy decision for me to make, as I love my job and the difference we make to the lives of the people in our communities. I’m proud that my successor will inherit a very strong and ambitious organisation with excellent relationships with all our key stakeholders. Although I’m very much looking forward to the next phase in my life, I will miss the fantastic Board members and colleagues at WSHA and want to thank them for the strong support I have received throughout my time at the Association.”
Kelly Adams, chair of the WSHA board, said: “On behalf of WSHA and its board I would like to take this opportunity to thank Brian for the hard work and commitment he has given to WSHA since joining us. With over 30 years of service in the housing sector, he has brought a wide range of skills and experience to help shape WSHA and its’ future plans and has achieved an incredible amount in his five years with us. We wish him the very best for his retirement.”