Our Executive Team
Our Executive Team
Our Executive is the most senior management team below the Board. They are responsible for manging Settle and for the effective delivery of our strategy. Each Executive Director leads their own directorates.
Rod Cahill
Chief Executive (interim)
As the most senior colleague at Settle, Rod works closely with the Board and leads the Executive Team. Rod has significant experience working as a Chief Executive and leader in the housing sector, including 26 years spent leading another large housing association in London and the South East.
Along with ensuring organisations have effective leadership, regulatory and financial governance in place, Rod’s priorities are on driving a financially aware and resident-focused culture with emphasis on value for money and customer satisfaction.
Heather Ashton
Chief Finance Officer (interim)
Heather leads our Finance and Governance functions which includes business, financial and treasury planning, procurement and support for our Boards and Committees, along with risk management and overseeing our internal and external audits.
Heather has extensive experience in the social housing and higher education sectors, preceded by a career in finance in the retail and manufacturing sectors. Her experience in the housing sector includes working as an Executive Director for a large housing association in the North East of England, before moving into the interim market in 2023.
Dean Anderson
Managing Director
Dean has overall responsibility for delivery of all frontline services at Settle, including the work of our Housing, Customer Service, Repairs/Maintenance and Property teams.
Dean has extensive experience of leading innovative customer experience and digital programmes in the housing, education and public sectors. He champions the delivery of better services, with a wealth of experience ensuring that customers are at the heart of service delivery.
Dean joined Settle in 2022 as Executive Director of Customer Services, having held a similar role prior to this at another large housing association working across the Midlands. He moved to the wider role of Managing Director at Settle in 2025.
Donna North
Executive Director of Central Services
Donna leads our Central Service functions at Settle including Communications, Engagement, Facilities, IT and the People Team. Donna has extensive experience in people-related roles across sectors such as recruitment, energy and the professional services industries.
Donna joined Settle in 2019. Having led on our People and Engagement work, she took on the wider role of Executive Director, Central Services in 2024. Donna is passionate about transforming ideas into impactful actions that put residents at the heart of everything we do. She champions innovation, cultural change and strategic initiatives that make a difference in people’s lives.
Fiona Coulson
Executive Director of Development
Fiona leads our work to at Settle to develop new affordable homes and our regeneration programmes investing in existing homes and neighbourhoods.
Fiona has extensive experience across all aspects of development having worked in senior roles in a range of housing associations. Fiona has a particular focus on partnerships, regeneration and investment in neighbourhoods alongside quality homes to create great places to live in.
Jesse Meek
Executive Director of Asset Strategy and Sustainability
Jesse leads our Property and Asset teams at Settle. As part of this, Jesse drives the investment we make to provide safe, warm homes as the lead for our planned investment, compliance and sustainability programmes.
Jesse has built his career across the housing sector, working for both housing associations and contractors. He joined Settle as Executive Director in 2022 having worked in several other large housing associations. With a focus on our built environment, Jesse is interested in how we address the issue of sustaining homes now, and in the longer term, in order for residents to live well in the place they call home.
Joe Williams
Executive Director of Customer Services
Joe leads our Housing and Customer Services teams. As Executive Director of Customer Services, Joe is responsible for our Landlord Services, ensuring we are compliant with the Consumer Standards set by the Regulator of Social Housing. He is also the senior lead accountable for complaints handling at Settle, and ensuring we comply with the Complaint Handling Code set by the Housing Ombudsman. Joe reports to the Settle Board about our work to meet the Consumer Standards, complaints handling and customer resolution. You can see more about the Consumer Standards and Complaint Handling Code on our How we’re regulated web pages.
Joe has worked across a number of housing roles in his career, starting off in a call centre, before progressing into front line and management positions across a number of housing disciplines. Joe is passionate about feedback driving services and ensuring that we really listen to, and learn from, the voice of the resident.