MEARS GROUP - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Finance Director
- Member of the Board
Andrew joined Mears in 1999 and, prior to his appointment to the Board, was Chief Financial Officer covering the Group's subsidiaries. Andrew qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1994 and worked in professional practice prior to joining Mears
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Remuneration Committee
- Member of the Board
Angela has extensive experience gained from a career in housing spanning 30 years. Starting her career at Sunderland Council, Angela then worked for Home Housing and subsequently joined Endeavour Housing Association, firstly as Housing Director and then Managing Director. She joined North Star in 2009, holding the position of CEO. Angela holds an MBA and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Housing.
Job Titles:
- Chartered Accountant
- Company Secretary
- Member of the Board
Ben is a Chartered Accountant and, prior to his appointment as Company Secretary, was Group Financial Controller and Director of a number of the Group's subsidiaries. Ben joined the Group in 2004, having previously worked in professional practice.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Senior Independent Director
Julia is former Chief Executive of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust. She has significant experience in the housing and care sectors, having been a member of the Housing Corporation Board for 10 years and Chair of the Refugee Council. She was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in January 2020 for service to civil society.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Employee Director ( Non - Statutory )
Hema read Law at university and has over 20 years' bid management experience, predominantly in the social housing sector. She has worked for Mears since 2020 as a Bid Manager in the central business development function as well as previously from 2014-2018 and before that worked for a Housing Association.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board
- Chief Financial Officer
Jim is a very experienced company Chief Financial Officer. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1984. He has spent much of his career in senior finance roles in consumer-facing industries, having been Chief Financial Officer at David Lloyd Leisure, JD Wetherspoon and Countrywide.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Member of the Board
Lucas graduated with a BA in Business and Commerce, joining the Company as a business apprentice in 2004. He has worked his way up through business development and operational roles within the Group to join the Executive Board in 2023. He has hands-on experience of running contracts throughout his time at Mears, becoming Operations Director in 2017 and Group Chief Operating Officer in 2021. In 2024 Lucas became Chief Executive Officer.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Investors Committee
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Audit Committee
- Chartered Accountant
- Member of the Board
Nick is a Chartered Accountant with extensive finance and corporate governance experience gained, both in the UK and internationally, through Executive and Non-Executive positions in consumer companies under both public and private equity ownership. Nick has been Group Chief Financial Officer ("CFO") at three public companies and Audit Committee Chair at four businesses including three FTSE listed companies. Nick was formerly CFO of Pepco NV, Superdry plc and Halfords Group plc and was also Chief Executive Officer at Dunelm plc and is currently Non-Executive Director and Audit Committee Chair at Oriflame Holding Limited and AG Barr plc.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Customer Scrutiny Board
- Chairman, Customer Scrutiny Board
Ms Alafat was previously Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute for Housing and the former Director of Housing at the Department of Communities and Local Government where she was responsible for national housing polices including affordable housing, homelessness and supported housing.