Senior management

Link is managed by people with a wide range of professional experience and skills.

Group leadership team

Jon Turner

Jon Turner

Jon was appointed Chief Executive of Link Group Ltd in January 2019. He was previously Group Director of Treasury at Wheatley Group.

Jon has extensive housing experience in both Scotland and wider in the UK having held roles ranging from financial advisory services through to bank and equity investments.  Jon has also worked with a number of central and local government bodies who have been involved in large scale infrastructure programmes.

Jon is responsible for leading the delivery of Link’s strategic vision through a range of innovative services across the Link group of companies. He recently led on the attainment of the imug certificate, Sustainable Housing Label.

Link is a group of award-winning social enterprises serving more than 40,000 customers across all regions of Scotland, having an annual turnover of over £70m and 900 staff.

Colin Culross

Colin Culross

Colin joined Link in 2007 and is the Group Commercial Director.  His role covers three management areas responsible for property development, management and maintenance and is supported by over 360 staff.

As C~urb Managing Director, Colin is the senior reporting officer to the C~urb Board and provides direct reporting to Link's Group Board on all matters of commercial activity.

As a member of the Group Leadership Team, Colin contributes significantly to development and implementation of Link’s strategy and the development of business plans along with delivery of their objectives.

He also ensures ongoing financial viability via annual budget setting and monitoring for property development, asset investment and repairs.

 

Sarah Smith

Sarah Smith

Sarah joined Link in 2014 as Chief Executive of the group’s health and wellbeing charity, LinkLiving. In 2021 she was appointed Group Director of Communities where she is responsible for ensuring the development and delivery of high-quality housing, care, support and employability services.  

Sarah has led the development of Link’s Sustainable Communities strategy, which aims to reduce inequalities and improve wellbeing by creating opportunities designed to mitigate the impact of poverty on individuals, families and communities.

Senior leaders

Brett Sadler

Brett joined West Highland HA as its new Chief Executive in July 2022. Prior to this, he held several senior housing roles across North Wales.

Brett is responsible for providing leadership and guidance for West Highland HA, to ensure the highest levels of service are provided to customers. This includes partnership working with community organisations to provide much needed housing in rural and island communities.

David Mackenzie

David is Link Housing's managing director, having previously held a variety of senior roles across the housing sector.

His role involves ensuring tenants and customers receive the highest standard of service in the management of Link's properties, tenancies and estates.

He is also responsible for the strategic leadership and direction of housing services and advice teams, leading cross-group working on housing issues and working with local and national government to develop housing services.

Elinor Taggart

Elinor is Director of Property Development within Link’s subsidiary C~urb. Elinor leads the Development team who deliver Link’s new build development programme. In addition, the team provide Development Services to a number of other Registered Social Landlords who buy in Development Services from C~urb Property Development. Elinor joined Link in 2014 and is a qualified Project Manager with over 30 years’ experience working in the affordable housing sector in Development.

Graeme Bruce

Graeme is Link Group's Director of Sustainability and Asset Management.

Graeme has over 30 years' experience in construction, asset management and social housing.  He took up his current role in Link Group in May 2021 having worked in the Link Group partner West Highland Housing Association since 2009.His role over sees the delivery of the Sustainability Strategy including the Groups decarbonisation ambitions.  Graeme is responsible for the development and delivery of our Asset Management Strategy and asset related compliance activity.

Grant Alexander

Grant is Link Group's Head of Community Wellbeing.

Helen Bayne

Link Group Director of People and Communities Helen started with Link in 2007 as the director of human resources. Her post also encompasses governance, assurance and learning and development.

Helen’s key areas of responsibility are to ensure Link’s HR strategy services are delivered in line with good practice and deliver a range of strategy and business support activities.

Helen currently chairs the equality, diversity and inclusion group and health and safety committee as part of her remit.

Ken Fox

Ken was appointed to Digital Director of Link Group Ltd in August 2016. 

Ken has extensive experience in the defence, local government and housing sectors, having held several senior technology roles ranging from Digital Director to Programme Manager for the Pathfinder North consortium. Ken’s early career was in the Army where he served as a Major completing several operation tours including Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo and Northern Ireland. Ken was awarded the British Empire Medal.

Ken is responsible for all aspects of business technology, data and digital service provision, with overall remit for end-to-end performance of the digital estate and data architecture. Leading the delivery of Link’s strategic vision through a range of innovative services across the Link group of companies.

Lee Williamson

Lee joined LinkLiving in 2007, managing the Edinburgh Young Persons’ Service for 12 years before progressing to Head of Services and Development in 2019 and most recently, to Director in 2023.  Lee holds operational responsibility for LinkLiving, the group’s health and wellbeing charity. 

Lee works closely with the Chief Executive to ensure the ongoing development and delivery of high quality care, support and employability services designed to support people to overcome the negative impacts of trauma and disadvantage. 

Lorna Cameron

Lorna is Horizon Housing Association's chief executive.

Her role involves ensuring tenants and customers receive the highest standard of service in the management of Horizon's properties, tenancies and estates.

She is also responsible for the strategic leadership and direction of Horizon's housing services.

Lynne Griffin

Lynne joined Larkfield Housing Association in 1997 and held various housing management roles prior to becoming area manager in 2007.

She is responsible for Larkfield’s strategy and business plan and the development and effective delivery of Larkfield’s housing management and maintenance services.

Lynne is also a corporate member of the Chartered Institute of Housing. 

Lorna Dunsmore

Lorna is Director of Property Management.

Lorna Dunsmore is Director of Property Management within Link’s subsidiary C~urb. Lorna leads teams managing the Shared Equity Scotland service delivered on behalf of the Scottish Government; and a range of other services including factoring, mid market rent, shared ownership, commercial leases, and Private Sector Leasing letting agency services on behalf of the City of Edinburgh Council. Lorna is a Chartered Member of the CIH with over 20 years’ experience in the sector plus an MSc in Housing Studies, Letwell and ILM qualifications

Nick Pollard

Link Group Director of Finance and Business Services Nick Pollard is responsible for Link’s financial affairs, raising funding for our development programme and managing the group’s finance function, ICT&D and corporate services teams. 

Nick has substantial finance and housing association experience with 14 years of banking knowledge, combined with a further 14 years of work in social housing as a consultant, regulator and finance director.

Rab Stevenson

Rab is Director of Property Maintenance.

Rab joined Link in 2012 as Trade Operations Manager and became Director of Property Maintenance in April 2023.

Rab manages C~urb Property Maintenance who carry out all Reactive Repairs, Gas Servicing, Planned Maintenance and Cyclical activities for Link Group and is supported by over 250 staff/operatives.

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