Our Team

Honor is the Chief Executive of Birchgrove, a specialist age-exclusive developer working to establish a portfolio of assisted living neighbourhoods with well thought-out facilities for rent.

Central to Birchgrove's proposition is the belief that renting instead of owning a home is the most liberating form of tenure, allowing neighbours to retain their independence without the burden of homeownership.

Birchgrove has a bunch of happy neighbours in Sidcup in Kent and two neighbourhoods in Woking and Ewell, both in Surrey. Following closely behind are Banstead, Godalming, Leatherhead - all in Surrey - and most recently Chiswick and Mill Hill in London.

“Apart from genuinely enjoying the company of my competitors, I’m so happy to join the ARCO Board because a healthy industry is good for all of us and our customers. I firmly believe that change is best affected from within rather than standing on the outside shouting in. And change is what we need because we’re currently catering for a tiny minority of the population, and we know so many more people could benefit hugely from living within an IRC.”

As CEO of Rangeford Villages, Howard drives the overall business strategy across all key disciplines, with a clear view of growing the number of high-quality integrated retirement communities that Rangeford Villages operate.

Prior to joining Rangeford Villages in 2018, Howard was previously an Executive Director at Anchor for 9 years, one of the UK’s largest providers of housing and care for older people. Howard is experienced in the delivery and management of high performing later living communities and managing over 30,000 retirement units across England.

“I am delighted to be joining the new ARCO board at such a pivotal stage in the growth of the Integrated Retirement Community sector. Helping all operators to be successful is a shared aim of the ARCO membership and we will do all we can to help in that endeavour. As a sector we benefit from a brilliant ethos and determination to succeed in the face of a number of market and legislative challenges, whilst acknowledging that what we do makes a difference to thousands of people up and down the country. The market will only grow and ARCO will be a major part in ensuring the needs of current and future generations are met.”

Julie joined Auriens as CEO of Auriens, Amicala and Draycott Nursing and Homecare - 3 companies bought together under a single platform by Oaktree Capital Management with the aim of developing further provision in the IRC sector. With numerous projects in development, the hope is to grow with the sector and be a meaningful contributor to providing high quality solutions for people as they age.

With experience spanning Real Estate and Hospitality as CEO of a European real estate backed hotel platform, Julie also has experience as an Operating partner in Private Equity, acquiring and growing businesses with potential. She is also Chair of a small hotel brand House of Gods,  and has served as the first Chair of Britain’s newest national park – The South Downs - as part of a love of the great outdoors and the area in which she lives. 

With a long history of operating within a social impact framework, she has taken multiple companies through the BCorp accreditation process and is a strong champion of the operational delivery of ESG as just doing good business. A short spell in social housing and as a secondee as a Government advisor all add to the diverse range of skills needed to be an active participant in this nascent sector that is full of potential.

"I love this sector and all the opportunity it holds, we have so much to do and so much potential to achieve a genuine win win for all stakeholders – its rare that things are so aligned and it makes the chance to deliver something that meets a real need a real privilege".