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Former CIH President Awarded OBE | CIH Press Release
Former CIH President Awarded OBE
5 January 2010

Richard Kitson, former head of the Aster Group and past President of the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) was awarded an OBE in the New Years Honours for services to the housing sector.

Richard, who is a housing and management consultant, was housing director at Bath City Council and Test Valley in Hampshire, group director for The Guinness Trust and most recently was Group Chief Executive of the Aster Group, one of the leading south west based housing association groups.

Richard is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Housing, and was its President in 2001/02. He was a nationally elected member of the governing Council for nine years.

Richard said: "I hope that this is seen as an award for the very many conscientious and committed people who work in housing as much as for me. I have very much enjoyed my career in housing and especially my year as CIH President when I was able to lead such a vibrant, enterprising and friendly profession. I am still enjoying being involved in a number of roles and hope to continue to contribute to producing good quality and high standard affordable homes for some time to come."

Sarah Webb, CIH Chief Executive, said: "We are delighted and very proud that Richard has been recognised in this way. It is a tribute to his fantastic work leading the housing profession over the last thirty years."

*ENDS*

Richard Kitson biography: Richard Kitson is a housing and management consultant. Until autumn 2009 Richard had grown and led Aster Group which is one of the leading south west based housing association groups. The Group has assets exceeding £570m, an annual turnover of £80m and employs over 900 people. Between them the five subsidiary organisations own or manage around 16,000 homes, have a substantial housing development programme in central southern and south west England, and are involved in a range of other activities including low cost home ownership, care and support, market renting and maintenance contracting. Aster leads the New Futures partnership which includes nine other housing associations and is delivering around 600 affordable homes for rent and sale each year. It was recognised as a Beacon Company by the South West Regional Development Agency and achieved "first class" in the Best Companies Awards 2009.

Richard began his career working in finance but soon moved into housing. His appointments have included Housing Director at Bath City Council and Test Valley in Hampshire, Group Director for The Guinness Trust and periods at Stevenage Development Corporation and Barnet London Borough Council.

Richard is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Housing, and was its President in 2001/02. He was a nationally elected member of the Council for nine years and at different times chaired the Policy and Professional Practice and Management Boards. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce (RSA), a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators and a Member of the Royal Society for Public Health. Amongst current interests he is Chairman of the South West Housing Initiative, Chairman of Wiltshire Rural Housing Association, an External Examiner for the University of Northumbria and a member of the Editorial Advisory Panel of the weekly trade magazine, Inside Housing.
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