New role for Jo as she joins housing firm

Jo Ray, 53, joins Karbon at a time when the organisation is putting a new structure in place to manage its 24,000 homes across the North East and provide services to its residents.

Karbon Homes was formed last month through a merger of Isos Housing, Cestria Community Housing and Derwentside Homes.

The enlarged business extends right across the region, from Berwick in the north, down to Stockton and the Tees Valley and across to the Northumberland border with Cumbria in the west.

The customer services directorate employs 600 staff and includes Karbon’s housing management team, its supported housing function, resident involvement, community engagement and Karbon’s extensive repairs and maintenance team.

Jo, originally from Hampshire, joins Karbon Homes after a 20-year career with Newcastle-based Sage Group plc.

She said: “I wanted something new and different – a change from technology and software. For me, it’s important to be part of an organisation that looks to make people’s lives better, and with a culture of loyalty and respect.

“It was also attractive to be joining Karbon as a new organisation, so there is the opportunity to build something on the fantastic foundations already laid down. I like the opportunity to build, shape and construct the future.”

She said Sage and Karbon Homes have a lot in common, as both need to build strong, long-term relationships with their customers, responding to what those customers want or need.