Abri group have appointed Mary Gibbons as their new Chief Operating Officer following a highly competitive recruitment process, drawing interest from across the sector. Mary is currently the Regional Managing Director of Abri’s London region, where she has led on the recovery of Octavia Housing’s services and integration into the group. Octavia formally joined the group as a subsidiary in December 2024.
On the appointment, Abri’s Group Chief Executive, Gary Orr, said:
“I’m pleased to confirm Mary’s appointment as the new Chief Operating Officer. This decision was made with confidence given the leadership Mary has demonstrated in the recovery of Octavia. Under her stewardship, we have stabilised the Octavia business, built the necessary controls and processes to drive improved performance, and have seen improved services for customers as a result.
“Mary’s knowledge and experience of the organisation, our customers and our communities will be of significant benefit to the group and ensure consistent senior leadership as we navigate the challenges and opportunities within our operating environment and look to launch an ambitious new corporate strategy in the coming months.”
As part of the Executive Team, the Chief Operating Officer is responsible for the strategic leadership and direction of Abri’s customer experience. The directorate is responsible for all landlord services including housing, repairs and maintenance, complaints, tenancy sustainment and community investment.
On her appointment, Mary Gibbons said:
“I’m delighted to have been chosen as Abri’s new Chief Operating Officer. I've seen first-hand the positive impact social housing can have on people’s life chances and wellbeing. With previous knowledge of Abri and the housing sector, and a passion for quality homes and services, I look forward to embedding a customer-first culture into the organisation and create another step-change in customer service standards.”
Mary will replace Ralph Facey who will be taking on the role of managing director of the Octavia Foundation before he retires. There will be an extended handover period to ensure a seamless transition in leadership with the aim of changes taking full effect in April 2026.
The plan for ongoing leadership in London is currently under review. Last month Matthew Swain joined Abri as the regional assistant director for Abri’s London region. Matthew will manage the local housing and estates team in the region and work alongside the other regional leadership teams to provide consistent, high quality housing services.
Abri has adopted a regional housing model, with each region managed through its own governance, local leadership and customer panels. The model ensures housing teams are more visible, accountable and better connected to customers to provide tailored support that meets the diverse needs of individual communities.