Our Executive Team
The Executive Team leads our workforce. Each executive director is responsible for an area of the business. They are responsible for compliance with Regulatory, economic and consumer standards.
Louise Bassett, Chief Executive Officer
Louise Bassett has been Chief Executive Officer at Gentoo Group since 2023, having formerly been Gentoo’s Executive Director of Corporate Services.
Prior to joining Gentoo, Louise spent over 20 years’ in the pharmaceutical and consumer health sector where she worked in senior HR leadership roles across Europe on business transformation, organisation development, talent management and mergers and acquisitions.
Louise is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and is passionate about business and the difference people and culture make to organisation performance and customer service.
Peter Lenehan, Executive Director of Finance
Peter joined Gentoo in February 2019 and brings decades of experience from the private and housing sectors.
He began his career as a chartered accountant with KPMG in Newcastle where he worked with large North East companies such as Nissan and in sectors including heavy building materials, shared services and property.
In 2007, Peter began working in the housing sector with a divisional finance director role at Home Group. He then worked with North Star Housing Group where he got involved in all aspects of finance, including business planning and treasury management.
Peter joined Coast & Country Housing as Corporate Services Director in 2015. During his time there, he helped the organisation manage the impact of social housing rent reductions and oversaw the organisation’s merger with Yorkshire Coast Homes to become Beyond Housing.
Peter is driven by a strong sense of social purpose and believes housing associations can have a real impact on the lives and communities in which they operate.
Stephen Flounders, Executive Director Regulatory and Business Services
Stephen joined our Executive team in 2023 in the newly created role of Executive Director Regulatory & Business Services. Prior to this, Stephen was part of the Senior Leadership Team at Gentoo as Director of Risk and Assurance.
Before joining Gentoo in 2019 as Head of Health and Safety, Stephen worked as a Health and Safety professional for over 15 years, and worked for KPMG, EY and other large organisations.
Stephen has always had strong ties to the North East from growing up in Hartlepool, to studying at the University of Sunderland and the city has always been close to his heart. He is passionate about working for an organisation who has an impact on the city, and wants all customers and colleagues to be at the forefront of decision making at Gentoo.
Stephen played a big role in launching the Corporate Strategy in 2023 and is committed to making sure it is delivered throughout the organisation.
Stephen is a member of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health.
Susan Fulton, Executive Director of Customer, People and Engagement
Susan joined our Executive team in the newly created role of Executive Director of People, Culture and Engagement. Prior to joining Gentoo, Susan worked at Home Group for 15 years.
Susan provides strategic direction and leadership for the Group’s People, Customer Voice and Marketing, Brand and Communications teams
Susan will influence strategic decisions, making sure colleagues and customers are at the heart of everything they do.
Susan is also Trustee at Smartworks Charity.
Marc Edwards, Executive Director of Property
Marc joined the Executive Team in September 2024 in the newly created Executive Director of Property position after nearly six years with the Group. Prior to this, Marc was part of the Senior Leadership Team at Gentoo as Director of Asset and Sustainability.
Marc brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the new role with over 10 years’ experience of working in the social housing sector.
Marc believes everyone should have a safe and secure place to live that they are proud to call home. He is committed to ensuring all the Group’s stock is safe, well maintained and (where practical) has an EPC rating of C by 2030 to help reduce running costs for customers. Marc is also passionate about supporting Sunderland City Council’s Low Carbon Framework to become a carbon neutral city by 2040.
Marc is also a Non-Executive Director at Keelman Homes Ltd. and a Fellow of the Chartered Association of Building Engineers.