Plus Dane, which owns and manages 18,000 homes across Cheshire and Merseyside, has appointed Paul Knight and Claire Ryan to its top team.

The company has several properties in Sandbach including Lightley Court, one of its sheltered schemes, Commons Mill, Greenacres and Union Street plus shared ownership at Gilberts Cross and a mixture of flats, bungalows and houses in Hassall Green. .

Paul Knight and Claire Ryan will join Ian Reed, who was appointed as chief executive in December 2020 to make up the new executive team.

Following his appointment, Ian undertook a structural review of the organisation's executive, reducing it from five posts to three and changing portfolio responsibilities under two new posts; chief operating officer and deputy chief executive.

Paul Knight, currently interim executive director of neighbourhoods at Plus Dane will take over as the chief operating officer with Claire Ryan being appointed to the deputy chief executive role.

Paul Knight has a career in social housing spanning over 30 years during which time he has held leadership roles in Your Housing Group and Chester and District Housing Trust as well as interim executive roles.

Paul said: "I am delighted to have been appointed as the new chief operating officer, leading a fantastic team, completely focused on doing its best for our customers."

Claire Ryan started her career at CDS Housing, one of the original housing associations that joined together to become Plus Dane.

She is currently a member of the executive at South Liverpool Homes where she has been part of the senior team for the last eleven years.