OLDHAM-based social housing group Guinness Northern Counties has promoted Paul Roberts to managing director, succeeding Carol Matthews, who left to become chief executive of Riverside in February 2012.

We already have a great team working at Guinness Northern Counties across the North and I am really looking forward to working with them to lead the organisation to even greater achievements

Roberts was finance director and stepped up to interim chief executive following Matthews' departure.

He joined the organisation in 2009 as assistant finance director, becoming finance director after 12 months. He has held financial roles at British Gas and Kellogg's.

His appointment was confirmed this week by Simon Dow, chief executive of the Guinness Partnership, following a rigorous recruitment process.

Roberts said: "I am very honoured and excited to be asked to lead this outstanding organisation at a time of unprecedented change and challenge for the housing sector. We already have a great team working at Guinness Northern Counties across the North and I am really looking forward to working with them to lead the organisation to even greater achievements."

Guinness Northern Counties owns 26,000 homes across the north of England and has its corporate headquarters in Oldham. The social housing charity employs 700 people in 20 regional offices.

This story was first published on our sister site Place North West.