Meet our Chief Officer Group

Jonathan Layzell

Chief Executive

Jonathan Layzell was appointed Chief Executive of Stonewater in June 2025. A respected sector leader with over 20 years’ experience, Jonathan brings deep expertise in affordable housing, customer service transformation, and strategic growth.

Before stepping into the Chief Executive role, Jonathan was Chief Officer for Growth and Development, where he led Stonewater’s national housebuilding programme—delivering more than 1,000 new homes every year—and spearheaded major mergers and acquisitions. He also held interim responsibility for the Customer Directorate, supporting services for over 93,000 customers.

Jonathan is a recognised leader in the housing sector and has led nationally significant bids, including securing over £500 million in funding for Stonewater from Homes England, and has championed pioneering initiatives in sustainability, public art, and community investment.

A passionate advocate for inclusive leadership and place-based regeneration, Jonathan continues to play a leading role in public affairs and housing policy.

Patrick Chauvin

Chief Officer Safety, Assets and Sustainability

Patrick is a seasoned property and asset management professional with a strong background in housing and construction. ​

​A qualified building surveyor, he began his career in private practice, managing construction projects for high-profile clients. With extensive experience in safety compliance, he is committed to ensuring homes meet the highest standards, balancing costs while prioritising customer wellbeing.

Anne Costain

Chief Financial Officer

Anne is a qualified chartered accountant and corporate treasurer. Before transitioning to the housing sector, she held finance leadership roles across various manufacturing organisations, ranging from SMEs to Fortune 500 and FTSE 250 companies. ​

​With a strong focus on efficiency and financial sustainability, she has supported organisations in strengthening their financial stability and long-term resilience.

Gareth Lloyd

Chief Information and Transformation Officer

Gareth brings extensive leadership experience as a CIO, COO, and CDO.​

He previously served as a non-executive director for a social housing group in the South-West and is passionate for leveraging technology and data for social good. He is committed to delivering the best outcomes for customers and champions simple, user-friendly systems that make a real difference in people’s lives.

David Ripley

Chief Operating Officer

David is an experienced executive with expertise in both the private and public sectors.

As social housing providers, he believes that customer service, engagement and empowerment, driven by legislation, should be in our DNA. As such, he is a passionate advocate of Stonewater’s commitment to keeping customers at the heart of all we do.

He has responsibility for Stonewater's compliance with the Consumer Standards.