Our Board members
Our board determines policies and the strategic and business planning framework.
Catalyst is led by a board of non-executive directors. It comprises a minimum of seven and a maximum of twelve members. These include one residents’ representative and a minimum of six independent members.
From 1 April 2022 Catalyst became a subsidiary of The Peabody Group. The Catalyst board will continue to operate until April 2023 when members will become part of the Peabody Group board.
Ravi Rajagopal
Chair
Ravi has extensive experience from a 35-year career including 19 years with Diageo. He has a rich and varied background of international and UK commercial and philanthropic experience.
Cary Wakefield
Vice Chair
Cary has had a successful career in FTSE, Public Sector and not-for-profit organisations in the UK and Europe. Cary has over 20 years’ experience in delivering high levels of customer engagement and satisfaction.
Paul Loft
Board Member of Peabody Trust and Peabody South East
Paul has had a 25-year career in retailing, in senior finance and general management roles.
Terry Hartwell
Chair of Investment Committee
Terry Hartwell is a chartered surveyor with over 35 years experience in commercial property. He has a degree in Valuation and Estate Management and became a Fellow of the RICS in 1993.
Mike Jones
Chair of Finance and Treasury Committee
Mike is a retired treasury advisor, having worked in the social housing sector for over 30 years.
Ian McDermott
Chief Executive
Ian McDermott joined as Chief Executive of Peabody on 1 October 2021. Ian was previously the Chief Executive of Catalyst and has over 30 years' experience in the housing sector.
Graham Woolfman
Chair of Audit and Risk Committee
Graham provides financial and governance consultancy focusing on a range of areas including to the social housing sector.
Christine Turner
Board member
Christine has over 35 years’ experience in social housing as a senior executive, board member and regulator.
Thelma Stober, BA (Hons) CEDR
Member of the Remuneration and Succession Planning Committee
Thelma is a solicitor and commercial mediator with extensive experience in the public sector.
The Executive team
The Executive team acts as an executive within the authority delegated by the board. This includes detailed scrutiny of performance, the development of policy and procedures and expenditure approvals within budget.
Ian McDermott
Chief Executive
Ian McDermott joined Peabody as Chief Executive on 1 October 2021. Ian was previously the Chief Executive of Catalyst and has over 30 years' experience in the housing sector.
Ash Fox
Deputy Chief Executive Officer
Ash joined Peabody as Executive Director of Customer Services in July 2017 and was appointed Chief Operating Officer in February 2018. She was Group Customer Services Director at Family Mosaic from March 2015 and was previously Head of Home Emergency Operations at the AA.
Bob Heapy
CEO of Town and Country Housing Group and Rosebery
Bob Heapy joined Town and Country as Chief Executive in October 2010. Prior to this he successfully led a number of major organisations in both the public and private sectors and has more than 30 years’ experience in the construction and social housing sectors.
David Lavarack
Executive Director Corporate Services
David joined Peabody in March 2007 from Barclays Bank, where he held several senior posts, including Small Business Banking Director and Chief Operating Officer for the marketing and communications functions worldwide.
Eamonn Hughes
Chief Financial Officer
Eamonn joined Peabody in 2018 as Finance Director for Development and Regeneration and has been the Chief Financial Officer since February 2020.
John Lewis
Executive Director Thamesmead
John is leading one of London’s largest regeneration programmes which will position Thamesmead as London’s New Town, creating 20,000 new homes of all tenure types to help meet the Capital’s housing needs.
Peter Evans
Executive Director of Property Services and Assets
Peter joined Peabody from Catalyst, where he was Group Director of Property Services. He has been working in property and construction for over 35 years in different sectors and in a variety of capacities.
Philip Jenkins
Executive Director of Development
Before joining Peabody, Philip was Group Director of Development at Catalyst and led on the delivery and sales of new homes. He joined Catalyst from Taylor Wimpey Central London, where he was Managing Director since September 2017.
Sarah Cameron
General Counsel & Company Secretary
Sarah leads the Leads the Legal, Governance, Risk and Regulatory Compliance teams for the Peabody Group.
Sarah Thomas
Chief Operating Officer
Sarah joined Peabody from Catalyst, where she was Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Chief Executive leading on the operations side of the business.
Stephen Burns
Executive Director Care and Communities
Stephen joined us in 1998 and became a Director in July 2006. He has worked in community regeneration, training and employment since 1991 and was a Director of a national training company from 1993 to 1997.
