Ian McDermott CBE became Chief Executive of Peabody in October 2021, following his role as Chief Executive of Catalyst. He is also currently Chair of the G15, the group of London’s leading not-for-profit housing associations. Centre for London works closely with the G15 on shared priorities around improving access to safe, secure and affordable housing in the capital.

A chartered surveyor with more than 30 years’ experience in housing, Ian has worked across local government, regeneration and housing association leadership. He began his career at Southwark Council before moving to Waltham Forest, where he worked closely with residents on major regeneration projects. He later joined Stonebridge Housing Action Trust, initially as Development Director and then as Chief Executive.

Ian is a Fellow and committee member of the Chartered Institute of Housing and an alumnus of Harvard Business School. He serves on the board of the National Housing Federation and co-chaired the advisory group for the Better Social Housing Review.

Antonia Jennings, CEO at Centre for London, welcomes Ian’s expertise to the board:

“After years of closely working with Peabody and the G15, it’s a privilege to welcome Ian as our Chair of Trustees at Centre for London.

Peabody has been part of London’s social fabric for more than 160 years, so this role feels like a natural extension of our work to help the capital become fairer, more affordable and more inclusive.

London is facing real, and growing challenges, with housing as a foundational issue linked to many of the issues the city faces. It affects people’s ability to live, work and build a future here. Ian brings with him a deep understanding of these pressures, and a strong track record of working with policymakers to drive real, practical changes.

His career has been about making London work better for people who call it home. This practical, outcome-driven approach aligns closely with what we do here at Centre for London, and our mission to build a city that works for everyone.

We’re looking forward to working with him in the years ahead, and helping London to meet the scale of the challenges we currently face”

Ian McDermott, CEO of Peabody and Chair of the G15, stated:

“I’m really pleased to be taking up the role of Chair at Centre for London from January, alongside my continuing role as Chief Executive of Peabody. London is an extraordinary city, but it faces serious challenges around housing, growth, affordability and inclusion. Centre for London has an important role in bringing people together, grounding the debate in evidence and helping shape practical answers for the capital. I’m looking forward to working with Antonia, the trustees and the wider team as they continue that work.”