Manchester-HQd comms agency Social has appointed its first associate director to its burgeoning London team.
Matthew Geer has joined Social, bringing extensive experience and knowledge from his time as a communications leader in housing and local government.
Matthew was most recently head of communications and marketing at West Kent Housing Association, where he developed, implemented and evaluated multi-year strategies and campaigns that impacted over 8,700 households and 325 staff across Kent.
Prior to this he was communications and engagement manager at the London Borough of Sutton, where he led communications and engagement activities across public health and wellbeing, social care, education and Sutton Housing Partnership.
Matthew said: “I am thrilled to be joining Luke and the team at what is a hugely exciting time for Social, and the sectors it works across. Having spent recent years working closely with the housing industry and local authorities, I can’t wait to start work with Social’s clients and delivering impact.”
The latest recruitment follows the appointment of Jamie Ratcliff as an associate in April 2025.
Social’s London business launched in 2020 to provide impact-driven strategic communications and consultancy, and a dedicated ESG and sustainability specialism in housing and the wider built environment.
The team, led by Luke Cross, former editor of Social Housing magazine, director at Ocean Media and finance editor at Construction News, has worked with a host of housing associations, large financial institutions, local authorities and real estate firms, in areas from ESG strategy through to strategic communications, flagships research, creative campaigns and stakeholder engagement.
Cross said: “Matthew’s appointment is another major milestone for our growing London business. Matthew brings invaluable experience in our core sectors, including housing and local government, along with an impressive network, a very strong track record in strategy and stakeholder engagement, as well as extensive experience in crisis communications and community engagement. I’m really excited about what this means for our services and our ability to make an even greater impact for all our clients.”
The appointment also comes as Social expands its expert public consultation and community engagement offering, which operates across England and Scotland, into London and the Southeast.
Social’s client book continued to grow in 2025, helped in part by increases in the London office’s turnover of 70 per cent in 22-23, and 35 per cent in 23-24. The London team provides strategic communications support to JLL, Westminster City Council, Sustainability for Housing and the Shared Ownership Council. Social also operates offices in Leeds and Liverpool.
The office has specialisms in strategic comms and C-level counsel; ESG, sustainability and impact comms and strategy; brand, design and digital marketing; social media; and consultation, planning and community engagement.
