River Clyde Homes - Project Team

Our staff

Meet the Project Team

The Project Team employees are involved in turning the ideas of the River Clyde Homes' Board into reality.

Karen Neary MBA

Chief Executive

Karen was appointed Chief Executive of River Clyde Homes in August 2005. A former Director of Clyde Valley Housing Association, Karen joined River Clyde Homes to prepare for the ballot and transfer of Inverclyde’s 8,500 homes.

Prior to joining River Clyde Homes Karen was the director of Clyde Valley Housing Association from 1998. She went on to lead the organisation through six successful competitive stock transfers and several new build schemes producing 1000 new homes over a five year period. Before joining Clyde Valley Housing Association, Karen worked with Cordale Housing Association between 1996 and 1998, creating a successful staff team that significantly improved performance levels and maintained a strong and successful focus on community led regeneration.

Karen's priorities are to ensure that River Clyde Homes provides tenants with tangible improvements to their homes and services, while maintaining affordable rents and improving value for money. Karen will lead the organisation’s staff in a period of positive change, providing new opportunities for while meeting tenants’ needs.

Jim Aird FCCA

Director of Corporate Strategy

Jim was appointed as Director of Corporate Strategy in April 2007. An accountant to trade Jim has over 24 years public sector experience, 19 years of which have been at a managerial level.

Prior to joining Riverclyde Homes Jim was working for Inverclyde Council as Accountancy Manager and Depute Section 95 officer. His role was to manage the Council's Accountancy and Budgeting section.

During his time with Inverclyde Council Jim has led numerous teams and improved the Finance function to take it from a failing service to an award winning department. Jim is a member of the Local Authority Scotland Accounts Advisory Committee (LASAAC) the body which determines future financial policy and procedure for the entire Local Government sector.

As Director of Corporate Strategy and Company Secretary Jim's priorities will be to ensure effective corporate governance through the Board of Management and strong financial stewardship.

David McCready MCIH

Director of Operations and Neighbourhoods

David was appointed as the Business Development Director to River Clyde Homes in September 2005, having been involved in the development of the organisation since April 2004. A senior housing officer with almost 30 years experience, David joined local government in June 1975 when appointed as a housing officer with Renfrew District Council where he worked until 1987. David was appointed by Inverclyde District Council as their Principal Allocations Officer in 1987, a post he held for over 9 years up until 1996.

At local government reorganisation in 1996 he became the Area Housing Manager for Greenock West & Gourock and subsequently moved in 1999 to become the Area Housing Manager, Port Glasgow & Kilmacolm. Whilst, Area Manager in Port Glasgow & Kilmacolm, David also served as Director Designate to Port Glasgow Housing Association who were successful in having the remaining Scottish Homes houses in Port Glasgow transferred to them in April 2001.

In 2003 David was involved in establishing the Social Protection Team throughout Inverclyde that introduced Community Wardens and a dedicated team of officers to investigate occurrence of Anti Social Behaviour.

John Duncan BA (hons)

Director of Property and Renewal

John was appointed Director of Property and Renewal in March 2007. Prior to this he worked for Queens Cross Housing Association as Director of Development with responsibility for housing development, Queens Cross Workspace and Queens Cross Factoring companies.

Having worked in the Housing Association Sector for over 17 years, John has participated in a number of stock transfers from both Scottish Homes and local authorities to RSLs. John has extensive experience in developing, procuring and delivering investment programmes for transferring housing stock, including new build programmes.