Corporate Management Team

Steve Stride

Chief Executive

Joined in 1998

Steve Stride is Chief Executive of east London housing association Poplar HARCA.  He has worked in the housing sector all of his professional career.

Since 1998,  he has led a £325 million housing and social regeneration programme to reshape the Poplar area and deliver excellent housing and community services.
His award winning organisation manages over 8,500 homes following successful stock transfers from the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.

Steve is committed to ensuring residents play a central role in the regeneration of their homes and the delivery of their services. This is demonstrated by Poplar HARCA’s  award winning resident led governance structure and resident led majority board.

Steve  has lived in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets for most of his life. He is passionate about the regeneration opportunities for east London as well  as Tottenhan Hotspurs Football Club.

Andrea Baker

Director of Housing

Joined in March 2008

Andrea has extensive experience in the housing sector over the past 20 years and has performed most roles unil she joined us as Director of Housing.

She manages over 60 staff in teams that deal with rents, lettings, housing management, tenancy enforcement, support and inclusion and home ownership.

She previously worked for Southwark Council, Tower Hamlets Council, Swan Housing Group and Richmond Partnership.

Steph Begley

Director of Finance

Joined in March 2001

Steph is responsible for finance, human resources and IT.

She has a Honours degree in maths and worked as a teacher for 10 years. She is also a qualified Chartered Accountant and has an MBA.  She specialised in auditing charities before she came to Poplar HARCA.

Babu Bhattacherjee

Director of Communities and Neighbourhoods

Joined in 2004

Babu has over 20 years experience working for a range of community, voluntary and regeneration organisations in London and Manchester.

He was appointed director in 2009 and manages around 70 staff who deliver programmes such as youth activities, employment and training, playgroups and services for older people.

Babu is also a school governor for Ian Mikardo School - a  day school for boys with severe and complex social, emotional and behavioral difficulties.

Neal Hunt

Director of Development

Joined in 2007

Neal has worked in construction and development for 30 years and has vast knowledge of the affordable housing sector.

Neal manages a passionate team of 16 people working on urban regeneration in Poplar and providing more housing in an overcrowded borough.

Before joining us he worked in the private sector for Llewellyn Group where he was the director responsible for the London region. He was eventually made Managing Director with offices across the South East.

Kevin Wright

Director of Technical Resources

Joined in 1998

Kevin is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Building and has much experience in asset management and regeneration in the commercial and housing sector.

Kevin is the longest serving director at Poplar HARCA and is highlighy experienced in large scale property maintenance.

He managed our first regeneration programme in 1998 and now manages about 135 staff who look after all our homes and the local environment.