BUILDING SOCIETIES - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Deputy Chair of the Board
- Trustee
- Group Board Director and Managing Director of Thomas Carroll Group
Alison is Deputy Chair of the Board and has been a Trustee since 2021.
Alison works as Group Board Director and Managing Director of Thomas Carroll Group and Thomas Carroll Private Clients Limited. She has extensive experience working in the field of personal insurance and high value insurance, having previously worked for HSBC Group.
Alison also has over 25 years experience in leadership and management.
Outside of work, Alison's interests include supporting charities, growing vegetables, yoga, cycling and golf. She is also passionate about her commitment to helping combat climate change.
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- Trustee and Vice Chair of Llamau
David has worked extensively across the public service within Wales with key roles in the Welsh Government, the National Assembly, and the Third Sector.
He has also chaired a lottery distribution panel in a voluntary capacity. Areas of keen interest include deprivation, social exclusion and domestic abuse services where David led the Government's 10,000 Safer Lives program.
David has been the Trustee and Vice Chair of Llamau, a charity that supports homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Most recently, David has worked in resource efficiency for the Welsh Government exploring the multiple opportunities moving to a more circular economy and is currently leading some thinking on affordable housing.
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer
- Trustee
- Chief Operating Officer of Monmouthshire Building Society
Dawn joined the Society in September 2017 initially as Director of Distribution before she moved into the role of Chief Operating Officer. She was appointed to the Board in February 2018. Dawn is responsible for the Operations and Distribution within the Society.
Before joining the Society, she has enjoyed successes in various senior leadership roles across the banking, insurance and building society sectors with her most recent role as Head of Operational Strategic Design & Delivery at Sainsbury's Bank. Dawn also spent
Dawn is passionate about delivering solutions that align to the Society's values to help colleagues, members and communities to thrive today and tomorrow. She is particularly proud of the support colleagues show for local communities and charity initiatives, giving
Dawn is Chief Operating Officer of Monmouthshire Building Society and joined the Charitable Foundation as a Trustee in 2021.
Before joining the Society, Dawn was most recently Head of Operational Strategic Design & Delivery at Sainsbury's Bank and before that she held the role of Head of Mortgage Operations. She was contracted for 16 months with the Welsh Government on Executive Projects to create a culture of continuous improvement, drive change and deliver business efficiencies. Dawn also spent 11 years with the Principality Building Society in various roles including the Head of Direct Channels. She has worked in Legal & General and Bank of Wales Plc.
Dawn contributes over 30 years' experience within financial services and is skilled in the formulation of strategy and delivering change.
Job Titles:
- Non - Executive Director
- Chief Technology and Operations Officer of Bitstamp
James is the Chief Technology and Operations Officer of Bitstamp. He has held numerous executive roles in regulated financial entities across product, customer experience, technology, and operations. Previously, he served as the Chief Product and Marketing Officer at Zand Bank (UAE), where he oversaw the launch offerings of the world's first combined corporate and retail digital bank. Other roles include Chief Technology Officer of Tandem, the UK-based digital challenger bank, Chief Operating Officer of Commercial Bank International, and Digital Platform Director at Barclays.
James brings extensive experience in global banking and the fintech sector, where he has both built new digital banks and driven the transition from traditional to digital banking. He has a degree in Computer Science, has authored numerous textbooks on digital technologies, and lectured academically on disruption and transformation.
James believes the combination of the Society's ambitious, forward-thinking approach with its community focused fundamentals are exactly what's needed for all members and colleagues - current and future.
Jon joined the Foundation in March 2021. Jon spent 34 years working for Atradius Credit Insurance and its predecessors before taking early retirement in September 2020. All of his career was spent in the IT department, delivering systems and solutions for the Atradius group globally, and he retired as the Deputy Director of IT Services.
Jon performed a number of roles during his career, mostly in management. These ranged from application development to database administration, from systems to network management and security to audit and compliance. As Deputy Director he was responsible for the financial control of the Group's IT budget as well as sourcing, procurement and vendor management. While he was working, Jon was a Chartered Quality Professional (CQP, MCQI) and a full Member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (MCIPS).
Job Titles:
- Chartered Accountant
- Chief Risk Officer
- Non - Executive Director of POBL Housing Group
Julian joined the Society in September 2021, as Interim Finance Director, and was appointed Chief Risk Officer and Board member on 1 August 2022. Julian is responsible for Risk, Compliance and Governance within the Society.
Julian has been a non-executive director of POBL Housing Group since 2014, where he chairs the Audit and Risk Committee. Prior to joining the Society Julian was Interim Group Head of Finance at Wrekin Housing Group. He held a number of senior roles with the Principality Building Society from 2003 to 2020. These roles included Head of Group Finance, Head of Capital and Liquidity Risk Management, Chief Internal Auditor and most recently Programme Sponsor, where he led a programme of tactical and strategic change. Julian also held a number of finance related roles at Lloyds TSB Asset Finance and Chartered Trust plc. He started his career in KPMG.
Julian is a Chartered Accountant and contributes to the Society significant experience in Risk, Finance and Audit at executive and non-executive level. He is able to simplify complex problems and find strategic solutions whilst identifying areas for improvement and growth.
Julian enjoys working in Monmouthshire Building Society's close-knit team, and helping the Board to safely achieve the Society's brilliant ambitions and purpose for the benefit of current and future members, society and colleagues.
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- Chairman of the Charitable Foundation
As well as being Chair of the Charitable Foundation, Keith has been involved in the third sector in various roles for over 45 years. Keith was former Chief Executive of St John Ambulance for 17 years and its first Secretary General, retiring in 2018.
As an advocate for public service, Keith was Chair of Governors for Clytha Primary School in Newport and Vice-Chair of Governors at the then Duffryn High School in Newport, chairing the school's Finance and Staffing committees. Keith was also a Board Member of Newport Local Health Board, from its inception, representing the Third Sector and chaired the Board's Audit and Risk and Remuneration Committees. Keith continues his voluntary work as a member of Monmouthshire County Council's Schools Admission and Exclusion Appeals Panel, a Community Governor at Chepstow School and Shirenewton Primary School, an Associate Hospital Manager (Mental Health Act) for the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, and a Councillor on Shirenewton Community Council.
In January 2017 Keith was appointed by the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs as the Honorary Consul for Japan in Wales, one of only two in the UK. In addition to this, he is President of the Consular Association in Wales working with other consuls who represent their respective countries.
Keith was made an Officer of the British Empire in the Queen's New Year Honours list 2011 in recognition of the contribution paid to Health Care in Wales.
Keith is married to Sarah and has one daughter.
Kristy is currently the Society's Head of Retail who joined the Charitable Foundation in March 2023 as the Monmouthshire Building Society college representative.
Before moving into her current role, Kristy worked in financial services for over 23 years specialising in mortgage advice.
As the Colleague in the Community project lead, Kristy is passionate about funding and volunteering work that supports and benefits the Society's members, colleagues and communities in and around south Wales and the south west of England.
Outside of work, Kristy enjoys swimming and running. This frequently leads to her MBS colleagues signing up to charity runs without realising how this happened!
Job Titles:
- Non - Executive Director
- Senior Independent Director
- Fellow of the Institute of Leadership
Job Titles:
- Non - Executive Director
- Non Executive Director of Pobl Housing Group
Mike is a Non Executive Director of Pobl Housing Group, where he chairs the Audit & Risk Committee. He also served as a member of the UK Finance Mortgage Product and Service Board from 2019 until 2022.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Non - Executive Director
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- People Director at Lightful
- Trustee at PRIME Cymru
Stephen is People Director at Lightful, a tech firm providing digital marketing education and support to charities and non-profits all over the globe. Prior to Lightful, Stephen spent most of the last 20 years working in the finance sector in Bristol and Cardiff.
He has been a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development since 2008 and has previously been a school governor of a primary school in the Vale of Glamorgan, where he lives with his young family.
Stephen has been involved in a variety of fundraising activities over the years and has run the London Marathon twice. These days he takes part in 100 mile plus non-stop ultra-marathon events for varying charities.
Stephen is also a Trustee at PRIME Cymru. When not running, he enjoys relaxing with his young family on camping trips on the Gower - weather permitting!
Stephen joined the Charitable Foundation as a Trustee in March 2023.
Tom has 20 years' experience in financial services, and comes to the Society following a 4 year tenure as Finance Director at Bath Building Society.
Tom has held a variety of senior and strategic positions in financial services, having worked for Deloitte, Principality Building Society where he rose to the role of Group Financial Controller, and more recently Bath Building Society where he has been the Finance Director since 2018.
Tom is thrilled to join MBS and support the Society on its journey towards becoming a modern mutual. The purpose-led, innovative and forward thinking strategy is ambitious, and challenging, and builds on the Society's 153 years of service delivery. This next phase of development will ensure the Society remains relevant for its members, colleagues and communities for another 150 years. He believes the Community Bank proposition is really exciting and is looking forward to playing his part in delivering this venture.
Job Titles:
- Non - Executive Director
- Specialist
With extensive experience across both small and large entities, Trevor is a specialist in risk management. He is a Fellow of the International Compliance Association. Trevor also holds the FT Advanced NED Diploma. An Associate of the Chartered Institute of Financial Services, Trevor gained a Postgraduate Diploma before completing a Master of Business Administration from Sheffield Hallam University.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants
Will joined the Society in 2004 and was appointed to the Board in 2009 as Finance Director. In 2017 he became Chief Executive Officer. Will is accountable to the Board and responsible for leading the development and execution of the Society's long-term strategy in the interests of members. Will is responsible for all day-to-day management decisions and for implementing the Society's long and short-term plans.
Will previously worked for Deloitte and was involved with a wide range of audit work in a variety of different industry sectors. He has been with the Society for over 17 years and in that time has been responsible for various departments including Finance, Treasury, Customer Services and Arrears.
Will is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. He holds a Master's degree in Leadership and Management from the University of Loughborough. Will has a great understanding of the Society and the building society sector, and significant experience in financial management.
Will has been at the Society for over 17 years, he is extremely proud of the way in which all within the organisation pull together to ensure that we develop and evolve and continue to deliver exceptional services for our members.