LHC has appointed Elaine Elkington as its interim managing director and Asha Patel as strategy, innovation and growth director
Elaine Elkington takes over from John Skivington, who has served the not-for-profit organisation for more than 17 years and will remain in post until a permanent successor is appointed.
Skivington is stepping down after making the decision to take early retirement, though will continue in an advisory capacity at LHC until next year.
Elkington’s experience includes nine years at Birmingham City Council, first as director of housing and then as strategic director; as well as four years at London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham as director of housing and regeneration, and five years with Stafford Borough Council as director of housing, community and environmental services.
She is currently a non-executive director at H21 and chairs its Extra Care Committee and subsidiary business in Guernsey.
Elkington currently owns her own independent consultancy business and will be stepping in as LHC’s managing director on a part-time basis.
Reporting directly to Elkington, Asha Patel will work with all LHC internal and external stakeholders to formulate and implement the LHC Group strategy. Patel will also be taking on responsibility for the group’s marketing strategy and planning.
She joins LHC from Accord, where she was head of property strategy and delivery.
Patel has also worked on HS2 as a senior contracts manager, and previously held roles at Willmott Dixon, Midland Heart and Birmingham City Council, as well as several board positions.
A diverse and interesting organisation
Elkington said: “LHC is progressing fast with major change and innovation projects, so I’m thrilled to be joining such a diverse and interesting organisation at this time.”
Skivington added: “Elaine brings a wealth of experience in change management and board-level leadership across our key stakeholder sectors – both with the public sector in terms of the clients we work with, and in the private sector from where we source suppliers.
“It’s great to place LHC in her hands.”
