NE of the region's largest social housing organisations has appointed a new chief executive.

West Mercia Housing Group, based in Bromsgrove, has appointed Pat Brandum to head the group.

Mrs Brandum is currently business development director at West Mercia Housing Group, formed in 1998 and made up of Worcestershire, Harden and St John Kemble Hereford housing associations.

"As I helped to set up the group, I am delighted to take over its leadership and help it to move forward," said Mrs Brandum, who started as director of housing for Harden Housing Association in 1992.

Career

She started her career at the age of 18 in the City of Birmingham housing department and is married with two teenage children.

She said the group had a large, well managed and maintained housing stock but there were challenges for the industry, such as rising development and maintenance costs and an increasing shortage of key skills.

Mrs Brandum will assume her new role in January 2002 following the retirement of the current chief executive, Mike Blomer.

The group provides 4,600 affordable homes in its area, which includes Worcestershire and Herefordshire.