Edinburgh housing association has new boss

From: Dunedin Canmore Housing Association
Published: Mon Aug 01 2005


AN Edinburgh housing association has a new boss.

Ewan Fraser is the new chief executive of Dunedin Canmore Housing Association. The organisation manages nearly 4000 homes around Edinburgh, West Lothian, Stirling and Fife.

Mr Fraser (51), who lives in Fairmilehead in Edinburgh, officially took up his new position today (Monday, August 1). He replaces Alan Brown, who retired last month.

A qualified chartered quantity surveyor, Mr Fraser previously worked with Miller Construction and Castle Rock Housing Association. Latterly he served as the director of Dunedin Housing Association until it merged with Canmore Housing Association earlier this year.

He said: "I’m delighted to take on this new role. My priorities are to build on our achievements over many years – and to raise standards for the thousands of tenants we represent."

Dunedin Canmore is a not-for-profit business, with an annual turnover of around £12 million per year. It employs 192 staff and has assets worth around £170 million. As well as the housing association, the Dunedin Canmore Group also includes Malcolm Homes and the commercial property company, New Horizons Edinburgh.

Key successes in recent years have included the building of the innovative car-free development at Slateford Green in the heart of Edinburgh – and the ongoing transformation of the Moredun and Hyvots areas to the south of the city.

Mr Fraser said: "We have an excellent team at Dunedin Canmore - all committed to delivering the very best for people. My challenge is keep the quality high and enhance local communities through the homes we provide. Working with our tenants, and I’m confident we can achieve that."

Alan Brown worked in social housing for 35 years, initially with the Housing Corporation and then Scottish Homes – before becoming chief executive of Canmore Housing Association in 1990. His car-free development at Slateford Green is seen as one of his major successes, attracting interest from housing professionals around the world.

Friends, colleagues and staff from across Mr Brown’s career celebrated his achievements at a special reception in the historic Signet Library in Edinburgh at the end of June.

Mr Brown (65), who is married with two grown-up children, told guests he intends to spend his retirement enjoying time in his garden in Edinburgh, walking and reading.

Dunedin Canmore manages affordable properties for rent across Edinburgh, including homes in Gorgie, Dalry and Niddrie.

It also manages homes in: Livingston, Blackburn, Torphichen, Linlithgow, Bathgate, Blackridge and Armadale in West Lothian; properties in Dunfermline and Kelty in Fife; and homes in Stirling.

You can find out more about Dunedin Canmore online at
http://www.dunedincanmore.org.uk/



NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. Ewan Fraser qualified as a Chartered Quantity Surveyor in 1978 whilst working for Peter Graham & Partners in Edinburgh. He joined Miller Construction in 1980 and subsequently joined Castle Rock Housing Association in 1983 as Development Manager.

Ewan held various positions within Castle Rock until 1998 when he was appointed as Director of the newly formed Dunedin Housing Association resulting from a merger of three smaller housing associations. Dunedin quickly became established as one of Edinburgh's leading social landlords, completing projects to help homeless people and ethnic minorities.

During this time, Ewan worked closely with the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations and the City of Edinburgh Council, chairing the Edinburgh Housing Forum.

Following the merger of Dunedin and Canmore Housing Associations, Ewan was appointed Chief Executive of the newly formed Dunedin Canmore Group on 1 August 2005.

2. Alan Brown started his career with British Linen Bank, Edinburgh, in 1958 and moved to Toronto Dominion Bank in Toronto in 1962. He joined the Housing Corporation in Edinburgh in 1969 holding various posts including Regional Manager and latterly the post of Assistant Director.

Alan was appointed Head of Financial Services on the establishment of Scottish Homes in 1989 and in 1990 was appointed Chief Executive of Canmore Housing Association Limited. Canmore with approximately 2300 units now in management provides a wide range of general needs and supported housing in and around Edinburgh.

In 1992 he initiated the establishment of Malcolm Housing Association (now Malcolm Homes Limited) to provide "Market Rent" accommodation in the Edinburgh area. Malcolm is a subsidiary of Canmore (now Dunedin Canmore) providing a range of internal and external services to the Canmore Housing Group.

3. To see an archive of previous stories about Dunedin Canmore, please visit www.theprstore.net or call the numbers below.


Issued by THE PR STORE on behalf of Dunedin Canmore Housing Association


For more information, please contact
Adrian Mahoney, The PR Store
T: 01506 823714
M: 07967 150560 E: Adrian@theprstore.net

Ewan Fraser, Dunedin Canmore Housing Association
T: 0131 624 5600
Company: Dunedin Canmore Housing Association
Contact Name: Adrian Mahoney
Contact Email: adrianm@theprstore.net
Contact Phone: 01506 823714

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