Mark Smith to step down as CFO, Notting Hill Genesis

Notting Hill Genesis (NHG), one of London's largest not-for-profit housing associations, today announces that Mark Smith has informed the Board of his intention to step down as Chief Finance Officer (CFO).

Mark joined NHG in April 2024, supporting the organisation through a period of transition and transformation as it has progressed towards regaining financial resilience. During this time, NHG has maintained a strong balance sheet, supported by the successful raise of £250m sustainable bond in March 2025, has significantly improved its cash position and made good progress to deleverage. The strategic sales planned for this financial year have already been delivered and the investor sale of NHG's private rental portfolio, Folio, is progressing well.

Ken Youngman will join Notting Hill Genesis as CFO in March for a period of 12 months. Ken has 25 years' executive experience in social housing, care and commercial real estate. He has in recent years been serving the social housing sector interim CFO posts, most recently at Anchor Hanover, and before that at GreenSquareAccord and Sovereign Network Group. Prior to this he worked at Transport for London in the Commercial Development directorate, and spent 16 years as Group Finance Director of then G15 member Family Mosaic Housing (now part of Peabody).

A transition period will start in the next fortnight, and Mark will remain in the organisation until July. He and Ken will work closely together in the weeks ahead to ensure an orderly handover.

Patrick Franco, CEO Notting Hill Genesis, said: "We are grateful to Mark for his contribution to Notting Hill Genesis in recent years and for the important role he has played in rebuilding the organisation's financial resilience through a challenging period. We wish him all the best for the future.

"Whilst we still have further progress to make, we are pleased with the steps taken to become a more resident-focussed organisation and that all the finance-related actions in our Regulatory Compliance Plan have been delivered. Ken brings to Notting Hill Genesis decades of relevant financial and sector experience and we are delighted he is coming on board to build on these foundations and to support NHG through this next chapter."

Mark Smith, outgoing CFO of NHG, said: "It has been a privilege working at Notting Hill Genesis at this crucial stage of its development. I am pleased with the financial and strategic progress we have made against a challenging economic backdrop and am grateful to all my NHG colleagues for their support. I look forward to working with Ken during this transition period before exploring new opportunities later in the year."

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