A NEW chief executive has been appointed at Festival Housing Group, which manages more than 8,000 homes in Worcestershire and Herefordshire.

Guy Weston, aged 45, was previously managing director of the Malvern-based organisation, before becoming chief executive following the retirement of Chris Almgill.

With 25 years' experience in housing, Mr Weston has worked in various senior management roles within local authorities before joining Wychavon District Council (WDC) as head of housing management, in 1988.

He was a leading member of the team behind the transfer of WDC's homes to Spa Housing Association, in 1994, becoming chief executive, and was instrumental in the merger of Spa with Partnership Housing Group, in 2002, to form Festival Housing Group.