Ongo welcomes Des Hudson as new Chair of the Board, as Bob Walder steps down

Ongo has announced the appointment of Des Hudson as the new Chair of the Board, with his official start date set for this month. He will succeed Bob Walder, who is stepping down after nine years of dedicated service.   Des Hudson’s appointment follows a rigorous and competitive recruitment process. Four standout candidates reached the final stage, participating in interviews in July. A tenant panel played a crucial role in the selection, challenging each candidate on their approach to tenant engagement and ensuring the customer voice remained central.   Des impressed both the interview panel and the tenant panel with his thoughtful reflections, sector expertise, and commitment to values-led leadership. His selection was unanimous.   Des expressed his enthusiasm for the role, stating: “I am honoured to have been appointed to the Ongo Board and invited to serve as Chair. I’m looking forward to meeting colleagues on the Board and throughout Ongo.   “I have been impressed by the values of Ongo, its commitment to making a difference to the lives of the people we serve and our wider stakeholders, and the strength and success of Ongo’s business. “I am committed to building on the successes and good judgement of my predecessors, and to facing both the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for Ongo and our staff.”   About Des Hudson Des brings extensive leadership experience across housing, legal, financial, and commercial sectors. Most recently, he served as Chair of the Wrekin Housing Group and continues to hold several key non-executive roles, including Chair of the Trustees at Open Door Family Centre, Chair of the Credit Services Association Ltd, and Board Member and Senior Independent Director at I-Com International Ltd—a digital marketing agency structured as a staff cooperative.   His previous roles include Chief Executive positions at the Law Society and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland, along with senior roles in media and financial services. Des is a qualified lawyer and resides in Shropshire.   Farewell from Bob   Reflecting on his nine-year tenure, Bob Walder shared: “Being Chair is made so much easier when you’re surrounded by great people. I’m proud that as others have moved on, we’ve continued to attract equally talented individuals, something that speaks volumes about the strength of the organisation.   “It has been an honour and a privilege to be part of this journey, something I will carry with me always. I’ll be watching with pride as Ongo continues to grow and thrive.”   During his time as Chair, Bob oversaw significant challenges, including prioritising fire safety following the Grenfell tragedy and supporting vulnerable tenants through the Covid-19 pandemic.   Under his leadership, Ongo’s commercial businesses were transformed to contribute substantially to community work, record numbers of new homes were built, and thousands of people received support through jobs, mental health services, and financial assistance.   Bob added: “I want to wish Des every success as he steps into the role of Chair. I know he will bring great energy, insight, and leadership to the position, and I have every confidence that Ongo will continue to succeed under his guidance.”   As Des Hudson prepares to take on the role, Ongo extends heartfelt thanks to Bob Walder for his outstanding leadership. His legacy of resilience, transformation, and community impact sets a strong foundation for the future, and the organisation looks forward to the fresh perspective and leadership Des will bring.   To watch Bob’s farewell video, head to: https://youtu.be/7zXAEHl6wHI?si=xPfMAZRmlbiH6S8A For more information about Ongo and its Board, visit www.ongo.co.uk.