The Challenge
In summer 2025 Futures Housing Group was at a critical stage of its digital transformation journey. With ambitions to enhance organisational resilience, embrace emerging technologies, and improve service outcomes, the Board sought to appoint a Non-Executive Director with deep digital leadership expertise.
The brief was exacting: a strategic advisor capable of guiding senior leaders through transformation, advising on digital infrastructure, cyber resilience, and innovation. In addition to technical credibility, Futures were clear on the importance of local connection, prioritising candidates with strong ties to the East Midlands, and advancing their equity, diversity, and inclusion goals. In particular, they were seeking to add lived experience of social housing to their boardroom perspective.
Our Approach
We launched a bespoke, insight-led search shaped by our sector knowledge and community networks. While the role was publicly advertised, our primary sourcing strategy focused on targeted headhunting, led by our specialist Hannah Smith. With two years of senior digital recruitment experience and a deep understanding of the brief, Hannah leveraged both national networks and Neemar’s own CTO Community - a curated network of technology leaders across social housing.
Our outreach was personal, discreet, and strategic. We prioritised recommendations, referrals, and direct engagement with senior digital leaders who aligned with the values and mission of Futures.
Throughout the campaign, we reported full diversity data at every stage to ensure transparency and accountability:
- Longlist: 24% ethnically diverse, 20% female, 44% with lived experience of social housing, 5% LGBTQ+
- Final Interview: 33% ethnically diverse, 33% female, 33% with lived experience
This data-led approach ensured a balanced and inclusive shortlist without compromising on quality or experience.
Our Impact
We appointed Guv Dhaliwal, a highly accomplished digital leader with a rare blend of in-sector and out-of-sector experience. Guv had held senior roles at Walgreens Boots Alliance and served as CIO of Amplius, giving him both commercial breadth and housing sector insight.
More than technical expertise, Guv brought deep personal connection. He has lived experience of social housing and grew up in the East Midlands - attributes that inform his passion for the sector and his understanding of Futures’ customers and communities. This unique combination of local connection, digital fluency, and board-level acumen made him the standout candidate. His appointment adds strategic strength to the Futures board at a pivotal time. He is now advising on transformation strategy, supporting digital leadership, and championing inclusive innovation that delivers real impact for tenants.
Neemar clearly know the sector well and took the time to understand exactly what we needed from this appointment. We were kept fully up to date throughout, with detailed progress reports and regular check-ins. The candidate packs were particularly strong - clear, well-prepared, and full of relevant detail. Neemar delivered an excellent selection of candidates for this rolePauline DaviesChair, Futures Housing Group
