A former vice-chair of global finance giant UBS has become non-executive chair of Agile Homes, the Bristol-based specialist provider of low-carbon, affordable homes.
Christian Brodie, pictured, has extensive non-executive chair experience in a wide range of sectors spanning education, regional development, sport and charities as well as working in the law and finance. 
A former chair of the Commonwealth Sport Foundation and Student Loans Company, he spent more than 28 years with UBS, retiring in 2013 as one of two vice-chairs of its investment bank.
He joins the board of Agile Homes as the firm continues to innovate in the design and manufacture of affordable homes using a ‘fabric-first’ approach through the use of sustainable biogenic materials such as timber and straw.
As well as reducing construction times through their flat-pack modular design, the firm’s homes are also reduce waste and carbon.
Established in 2019 as a values-led business, Agile Homes has already completed a number of projects in Bristol, including 15 eco-homes on the roof of homeless charity Emmaus’s building in St Pauls HQ, and an experimental, carbon-capturing one-bed home, pictured below, in the grounds of Filwood Community Centre.
The firm hopes to design and build around 100 homes over the next 12 months for a range of clients including local authorities, housing associations and charities. 
Agile Homes has also staged its Radical Housing conference in Bristol for the past two years, attracting forward-thinking architects, academics, politicians and builders.
Christian said: “I am passionate about driving positive change in socially responsible organisations.
“Agile brings much-needed, values-led innovation in the housing landscape. I am excited to be able to help Agile in this next stage of its growth.”
Outgoing interim chair and Agile chief operations officer Steve Edrich, who has been with the firm since its launch, added: “This key appointment marks a step change in Agile’s development.
“Christian’s experience of chairing and representing a wide range of organisations and his extensive understanding of financing strategy to support growth will enable Agile to put keys in front doors of a greater number of truly affordable homes.”
Christian’s appointment is for an initial term of four years, providing stability and a good planning horizon as Agile prepares to celebrate its fifth anniversary.
