Four highly experienced leaders have joined the National Housing Bank to accelerate housing delivery through purpose-led finance
They have been appointed to the National Housing Bank’s Public Finance Institution, which aims to deliver over 500,000 homes across England through over £50bn of private capital.
The bank, which launched in April 2026, has confirmed the following appointments and posts following a rigorous interview process:
Steve Willingham, Executive Director, Debt
Currently Head of Global Investment Partnerships – Debt at DRC Savills Investment Management, Steve has more than 35 years of experience in real estate finance, including as Global Head of Real Estate Finance for HSBC in London and Hong Kong and as a Managing Director at Blackrock and Merrill Lynch.
He brings deep expertise across debt, structured finance and global capital markets.
He said: “I am delighted to be joining the National Housing Bank as part of the senior leadership team tasked with accelerating housing delivery across England, building on the groundwork and momentum that has been created already.
“This is a unique opportunity to make a difference in a nationally important field.”
Jennifer Murray, Executive Director, Equity
Jennifer is currently Director of Products, Equity and Partnerships for Homes England and the National Housing Bank.
She has more than 25 years of experience in real estate investment, fund management, and institutional partnerships. Since joining Homes England in 2018, Jennifer has held several senior roles, including Assistant Director, Partnerships & Equity, and Head of Institutional Investment.
I originally joined Homes England because I believe firmly in the virtuous circle that pension fund and insurance investment in housing can create,” she stated.
“Along the way, we have built both a team and an investment platform that aligns financial innovation with purpose, delivering outcomes that benefit investors, residents, and society alike. It’s a privilege to continue that mission for the National Housing Bank.”
Barry Fowler, Executive Director, Guarantees
Bringing significant experience in real estate finance and investment, Barry has held senior leadership roles at Aviva Investors, including Director, Insurance & Investment Solutions and Managing Director, Alternative Income, Real Assets, where he was responsible for developing and delivering investment strategies across real asset classes.
He stated: “This is a rare opportunity to apply my experience in structured investment leadership to an institution with the scale and ambition to genuinely shift outcomes in the housing market.”
Conan McKenzie, Chief Investment Officer
Currently a Managing Director and portfolio manager at BlackRock, Conan has extensive experience in multi-asset investing and portfolio construction.
He specialises in managing diversified strategies which blend multiple asset classes to achieve target outcomes.
He has also been involved in illiquid and alternative investments for more than a decade, leading several large investments in infrastructure and real estate.
“We have an incredible opportunity to use our large capital base to make a significant positive impact on housing delivery, along with a positive financial return for the taxpayer,” he said.
“A decent, stable place to call home is the foundation that lets people flourish, and it’s a privilege to use the tools of investment to deliver that for more and more people.”
The National Housing Bank will unlock over £50bn in investment in the next ten years
Powered by Homes England expertise, the bank aims to support the delivery of more than 500,000 homes and a raft of major regeneration and mixed-use schemes, alongside unlocking more than £53bn of private investment over the next ten years.
The new appointees are expected to take up their roles by the end of September.
The post National Housing Bank appoints four leaders to strengthen executive team appeared first on Planning, Building & Construction Today.
