People: Compendium Living; Wildfire; Billington Holdings; and more
Regeneration specialist, Compendium Living, has appointed a new project manager, to assist with the delivery of large-scale regeneration schemes across the country.
Lisa Johnson joins with over 25 years of experience in the industry, having previously held roles in repairs and housing management.
Over time, her career became increasingly focused on development and regeneration, which led her to the role at Compendium Living, where she will be supporting projects that contribute to the long-term improvement of local areas.
Johnson said: “I was attracted to the role as it brings together project delivery, partnership working and community engagement.
“Compendium Living’s focus on quality homes and the wider regeneration of local areas closely reflects my professional interests and experience.
“I’m really excited to have joined a company with a clear focus on regeneration, partnerships and long-term placemaking.
“My new role is varied, with a typical day covering everything relating to project management, communications and relationship building with stakeholders and local communities.
“One of the most rewarding aspects of the role is the opportunity to work with a wide range of partners and contribute to projects that are revitalising local areas.”
Compendium Living is a joint venture company set up by Lovell Partnerships and the Riverside Group, delivering complex, housing-led regeneration projects.
For over a decade it has been redeveloping the Castleward area of Derby city centre and Ings in east Hull.
Castleward, one of Derby’s largest housing projects, is providing around 700 new homes, green open space and nearly 35,000 square feet of commercial retail space. The Ings regeneration is also delivering over 700 new homes within a new community called The Leeway.
Johnson added: “I’m looking forward to supporting the delivery of Compendium Living’s regeneration projects.
“These schemes are about more than delivering new homes, they’re about supporting regeneration through partnership working, helping to create attractive, sustainable places where people want to live and spend time, as well as contributing to the long-term wellbeing of local communities.
“Our key priority is continuing to work collaboratively with partners to support well-planned, well-connected developments that respond to the needs of their areas.”
Her appointment follows Compendium Living bringing in Simon Medler as its new managing director.
For almost 19 years prior, he worked as regional managing director for Lovell in the East Anglia region, where he grew the regional business from inception, helped form successful joint venture partnerships and built strong relationships with local authorities and communities.
Alongside his new role at Compendium Living, Medler also holds the title of operations and customer experience director at Lovell, on a national level.
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Sheffield-based events specialist, Wildfire, has appointed Eleisha Pashley as account manager, bringing her back to the business where she began her career, after four years working across different event agencies.
Pashley, who studied event management at Sheffield Hallam University, began her career at Wildfire working on-site and delivering events directly.
Since then, she has primarily worked across venue finding and accommodation management.
Her return marks a new chapter in her career, moving from delivering events on-site to designing and planning experiences for clients.
Having experienced events from both sides of the agency process, she brings a broad understanding of what goes into creating successful events and the needs of agencies and their clients.
Wildfire offers a wide range of corporate event experiences, with one of Europe’s largest collections of party props and equipment, delivering bespoke experiences for businesses and organisations across the UK.
Pashley said: “I actually started my career right here at Wildfire, so it feels really good to bring that extra industry experience back to where it all began.
“I spent my early days working on-site running the events directly. Coming back to design and plan them feels like a natural step. It’s much easier to shape a great experience when you’ve been hands-on delivering it.
“I landed in the corporate events industry right out of university and quickly fell in love with the sheer variety.
“Lots of places say no two days are the same, but here you genuinely get to be creative every single day; one moment you’re planning a historic dinner in London, and the next you’re setting up a country pursuit in Yorkshire.”
Nathan Angus, CEO, added: “We’re really pleased to welcome Eleisha back to Wildfire. Having started her career with us, she already understands our business, our clients and the way we work, but she’s also gained valuable experience over the last four years.
“That combination makes her a great fit for the role. She brings a fresh perspective, and a strong understanding of what clients need, while already having a real connection with the team and the Wildfire way of doing things.
“We’re looking forward to seeing her continue to develop and play an important role as the business moves into its next stage of growth.”
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Barnsley-based structural steel business, Billington Holdings, has appointed Olivier Aebi as a non-executive director and confirmed the resignation of Alexander Ospelt as a non-executive director, with effect from 27 August 2026.
Aebi has over 25 years’ experience of holding leadership positions primarily within international engineering and consulting engineering entities.
He has extensive experience in the buildings, energy, transport infrastructure and construction engineering sectors, with a focus on sustainability, energy efficiency, hydropower and renewable energy.
He is CEO of Gruner AG, a consulting engineering and design company, based in Switzerland with global operations, offering a range of services to private and public clients in the buildings, industrial, infrastructure and energy sectors.
Aebi joins Billington as a representative of the company’s shareholder, Gutenga Stiftung Lichtenstein Foundation, which holds approximately 19.4 per cent of the company’s issued share capital.
Following his election as president of the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS), Ospelt steps down as a non-executive director and representative of shareholder, Gutenga Stiftung Lichtenstein Foundation.
Ian Lawson, non-executive chair of Billington, said: “I am pleased to welcome Olivier to the Board. He brings considerable international experience and expertise, and we look forward to his input and support in assisting the group to achieve its growth objectives.
“On behalf of the Board, I express my gratitude to Alexander for his dedicated service and contribution to Billington during his 13-year tenure and wish him every success in his role as FIS president.”
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Sheffield-based land, property development and home building business, Henry Boot, is making changes to its Board.
Serena Lang, non-executive director, has notified the Board of her intention to step down to focus on her other business and charitable activities.
She will remain on the Board in her current capacity until her successor has been recruited to support an orderly transition.
Lang joined the Board in August 2022 and became chair of the Responsible Business Committee in January 2023 and senior independent director in October 2024.
In addition, Talita Ferreira, non-executive director, has informed the Board of her intention to step down on 30 November 2026, due to increased responsibilities associated with her role at the Institute of Directors.
Ferreira was appointed to the Board in January 2024 and became chair of the Audit and Risk Committee in September 2024.
Earl Sibley, who joined as a non-executive director in April 2025, will succeed her as chair of the Audit and Risk Committee.
The Board has begun a search for two new independent non-executive directors.
Peter Mawson, chair, said: “We wish Serena and Talita well for the future and thank them for their valuable contributions to the Board of Henry Boot.
“Over recent years, we have made meaningful progress against our diversity targets, and we remain committed to building on this as part of our ongoing board succession programme.”
