John Johnston

John has more than 35 years’ experience in the social housing sector and has spent much of his career helping to shape Bernicia’s growth and success.

As Chief Executive since 2017, he has led the organisation through significant change while maintaining a strong focus on customers, communities and the North East.

Throughout his career, John has successfully led major regeneration, stock transfer, merger and organisational change programmes, combining strategic leadership with a commitment to improving outcomes for customers and communities. He brings extensive experience in governance, finance, risk management and regulatory compliance.

As Chief Executive, John has strengthened Bernicia’s financial resilience, governance and operational performance, ensuring the organisation remains customer-focused and well placed to respond to changing regulatory requirements and sector challenges.

John is a strong advocate for collaboration, partnership and regional growth. As Chair of the North East Housing Partnership, he works alongside housing associations, local authorities and regional stakeholders to address shared challenges and maximise the contribution housing can make to economic growth, regeneration and community wellbeing.

He is committed to ensuring Bernicia remains an ambitious, high-performing organisation that delivers value for money services, invests in communities, and creates opportunities for people across the North East.