The Abbeyfield Society appoints Paul Tennant as chief executive

The Abbeyfield Society has appointed the leader of The Law Society Paul Tennant as its chief executive officer.

Tennant, who has been chief executive at the professional association for the past five years, will begin his role at Abbeyfield in January.

During his time with The Law Society, he led the organisation through a process of modernisation, reducing the cost of the society to its members, and supporting them and staff through the pandemic.

His new role sees him making a return to the housing sector, where he has spent the majority of his career.

‘Housing remains a key interest for me, especially services for older people. The role of chief executive for The Abbeyfield Society is an opportunity too good to pass up,’ said Tennant.

He has previously led property management and development companies, working with housing associations, charities, communities, government and local authorities, funders and property developers. He was formerly president of the Chartered Institute of Housing and received an OBE in 2016 for services to housing.

‘In all of my roles I have sought to create and lead effective organisations and stretch them to do more; developing people and teams to maximise their potential and impact they can have; in the housing sector this has been to support excluded and disadvantaged groups to make a real difference to their lives and choices,’ he said.

Established in 1956, The Abbeyfield Society is a charity for older people, providing housing and residential care. It has over 100 managed properties in the UK and serves as an umbrella body for 145 Abbeyfield member societies, which manage more than 370 homes across the UK and internationally.

Former chief executive officer David McCullough died in February.