We are delighted to announce that we have appointed Matt Foreman as our new Chief Customer Officer from spring 2026
Matt will replace our current Executive Director of Customer Services, Guy Cresswell, who recently announced that he will be stepping down from his position early in 2026 after an amazing 32 years at Great Places.
Matt is currently Executive Group Director for Customer Services at L&Q in London and Greater Manchester; a role he took up following his position as the Integration and Operations Director at Trafford Housing Trust, where he was responsible for leading the delivery of services and successfully delivering the alignment of Trafford Housing Trust into the L&Q Group. He has more than 29 years of experience in social housing, many of these in the north-east, and over 12 years in leadership teams.
He has extensive experience leading customer services and delivering transformational change within local authorities, ALMOs (Arms-Length Management Organisations), Stock Transfer organisations and Registered Providers in both England and Scotland. Prior to joining L&Q, Matt’s previous roles included Managing Director of Dumfries and Galloway Housing Partnership (part of the Wheatley Group), and Customer Service Director at Your Homes Newcastle.
In addition, Matt is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Housing, and a Board member of the Scottish Borders Housing Association.
Commenting on the appointment, CEO Alison Dean said:
I’m confident that Matt will do a great job for our organisation, our customers and colleagues. He has a passion for delivering excellent customer services, and this really shone through during the robust interview process. He is well versed in the challenges and opportunities we’re facing as a sector, and his unwavering commitment to providing great outcomes for customers made him an excellent fit for the role.
Guy will undoubtedly be hugely missed in our business, and I’d like to thank him for the fantastic work he has done that has made a difference to so many people over the years. I know Matt is excited to build on this legacy and continue to help us deliver on the ambitions within our Corporate Plan, Here For Our Customers.
Matt added:
I am excited to be joining Great Places as the Chief Customer Officer. Great Places has a fantastic reputation for delivering great services and making an impact in the communities it serves. I am looking forward to becoming part of the team that builds on that great reputation and service for our customers.
I have big shoes to fill, as Guy has made such an amazing contribution to the success of Great Places over the last 32 years. I am proud to take on the mantle and will use my skills and experience of nearly three decades in social housing to support Great Places in its future ambitions.
