BHT Sussex has announced that Andy Winter, its long-standing chief executive, is to retire in January 2023.
Andy Winter joined what was then known as Brighton Housing Trust in 1985 and has been the charity’s chief executive since 2003.
During his time as chief executive, BHT Sussex has expanded its services into Eastbourne and Hastings, Mid Sussex, Crawley and, most recently, across the whole of East Sussex with the winning of a new contract to provide support for 6,000 people in their homes.
The Chair of the BHT Sussex Board, Kelvin MacDonald, said:
Andy has provided exceptional leadership to BHT Sussex over the time that he has been our Chief Executive.
When Andy joined BHT Sussex in 1985, there were fewer than ten members of staff. When he became chief executive in 2003 there were 115. Today we have 370 employees delivering quality services and changing lives across Sussex.
Andy displays an enviable combination of dynamism, professionalism and knowledge, strategic and innovative thinking and empathy. He will be an extremely hard act to follow and all those who have benefitted from BHT Sussex’ services, support, advice and housing, owe him a real debt of gratitude.
Andy Winter said:
Playing a small part in the work of BHT Sussex over the last 37 years has been a joy and a privilege. I have been so fortunate to have had such able and inspiring colleagues at all levels of the organisation.
The future of the organisation is bright. BHT Sussex has an incredibly strong management team, guided and supported by an exceptional group of trustees. My successor will be lucky to be joining the organisation at an exciting time as we develop new homes and expand our services.
There is never an easy time to leave, especially for me having spent most of my adult life within BHT Sussex. I am incredible proud of what we have achieved and what we continue to do. I cannot estimate exactly how many clients’ and tenants’ lives we have changed for the better, but it will be in the tens of thousands.
Once I retire I intend to write a book, watch more cricket, rugby and football, and walk our dog Molly a lot more.”
During the last decade, Andy Winter has been recognised for the leadership he has provided to the organisation and, by extension, the difference BHT Sussex has made to the lives of many thousands of clients and tenants. In 2014 he was voted ‘Inspirational Leader in Housing’ by the Chartered Institute of Housing and Inside Housing magazine, and in 2015 he was voted as having made the Outstanding Contribution to Sussex by the readers of the Brighton Argus. Previous recipients of this award have included the writer Peter James, cricketer Mushtaq Ahmed, and the astronaut, Tim Peake.
A process to recruit Andy’s successor will commence shortly.
