Key appointments further strengthen executive team at Anchor

We are pleased to announce significant appointments to Anchor’s Executive team.

• Dan Ryan joins as Executive Director – Care Services 
• Julie Wittich, who joined in June 2025 as Executive Director – Property and Assets, takes on the expanded role of Executive Director – Operations leading our housing services and customer centre as well as property and assets. 

Dan Ryan joins Anchor as Executive Director – Care Services early in 2026. He is currently Deputy Chief Executive Officer & Director of Operations at MHA. 

With expertise spanning service transformation, quality improvement, governance, innovation and financial management, Dan has over two decades of executive experience across both charitable and private organisations in the independent health and social care sector. His career began in the Civil Service, working at HM Treasury, and he later worked at the Healthcare Commission, predecessor of the CQC.  In addition to his new role at Anchor, Dan is a Trustee of the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust. 

Dan said:

I am delighted to be joining Anchor as Executive Director – Care Services. Anchor’s strong values, national reach, and reputation for excellence align closely with my own passion for inclusion, innovation, and empowering teams to make a difference. I’m excited to be part of a forward-thinking organisation at such an important time for our sector, and I look forward to working alongside colleagues to help shape the future of care and support for older people across the country.

Julie Wittich joined Anchor in June 2025 as Executive Director – Property and Assets. Her role is expanding with immediate effect and, as Executive Director – Operations, she will also have responsibility for Anchor’s customer and housing services.

Julie joined Anchor in June 2025 from Accent, where she was Chief Operating Officer, and has more than 30 years of experience in social housing, including 17 at senior and executive level. She has a track record of driving transformational change and positive, sustainable results for residents. With a career that has touched all corners of housing services, Julie is driven by her belief that everybody deserves to have a place they can call home.

Interim Chief Executive Amanda Holgate said:

I am delighted we are further strengthening the Executive team with these appointments. Dan brings exceptional experience in the provision of high-quality care as well as skills in transformation and technology implementation and we look forward to him joining the team. I and the Board would like to thank Cath Holmes for her strong and continuing commitment in the role of Interim Group Care Director during this time of transition.

Julie has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to ensuring our services continuously improve to meet residents' needs and regulatory requirements. We congratulate Julie on her expanded role.