LEEDS BUILDING SOCIETY - Key Persons
Strengths and experience: Andrew has almost 20 years' experience in financial services, including a number of senior roles in both building societies and banking institutions. Having worked within finance, treasury and corporate strategy, Andrew has developed strong technical skills in financial accounting and treasury risk management.
Andrew is Chair of Assets and Liabilities Committee and Balance Sheet Optimisation Group. He has responsibility for the Society's Finance, Treasury, Data and Third-Party Management functions, along with oversight of its recovery and resolution plan and activities.
Other roles: Andrew is a trustee for Saltmine Trust.
Job Titles:
- Deputy Chief Executive Officer
Strengths and experience: Andrew started his career as a solicitor in private practice and has worked for the Society since 1998, in a variety of roles including Chief Risk Officer from 2011 to 2022. Having worked for the Society for more than 25 years, Andrew has extensive experience of risk management, strategy and a strong knowledge of the organisation, its people and culture.
Andrew's main line management responsibilities are for the risk, and property and business services functions. Andrew is also Chair of our Inclusion and Diversity Steering Group, which supports the delivery of the Society's inclusion and diversity strategy and progressing our strategic objectives in this area.
Other roles: Andrew is a member of the UK Finance Sustainability Committee.
Job Titles:
- Independent Non - Executive Director
- Director of Tadayon Consulting Limited
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Remuneration Committee
- Independent Non - Executive Director
- Non - Executive Director, Chair of Remuneration Committee and Senior Independent Director of GlobalData Plc
Annette is Chair of the Remuneration Committee and as such, part of Annette's role is to make sure the Society has the right reward structures in place, to foster our mutual culture and to attract and retain the talent we need to deliver on our purpose.
Job Titles:
- Non - Independent Non - Executive Director
- Non - Executive Director of Tandem Bank Ltd
Strengths and experience: With more than 30 years' experience in financial services, David's career began at Halifax Building Society. Since then, he's developed a wealth of knowledge in retail financial services and has a strong understanding of risk management, pensions and human resources. Prior to joining the Society, David was CEO of Sainsbury's Bank.
Other roles: David is a non-executive director of Tandem Bank Ltd and Tandem Money Ltd.
Job Titles:
- Independent Non - Executive Director
Farah Buckley - Independent Non-Executive Director Appointed: April 2023. Board committees: Member of Audit and Board Risk committees. Strengths and experience: Farah joined the board in 2023. Initially qualifying as a chartered accountant at Deloitte, Farah has had a successful executive career with a focus on private equity and corporate finance, most recently with Hermes GPE and Schroder Adveq. Farah has extensive exposure of board roles with a portfolio of non-executive positions, bringing deep experience in audit, investment, strategy, risk and ESG. Other roles*: Farah holds non-executive positions with Aurora Investment Trust plc, Caledonia Investments plc and Apollo Syndicate Management Limited. Farah is also a non-executive director and Chair of Long Term Assets Limited. "Having worked in financial services for over 20 years, my extensive knowledge and experience, complements the other directors in our oversight of the Society. As a chartered accountant, I'm also able to bring relevant skills and insight to the Society." * As at 31 December 2023, the number of non-executive positions held were subject to a waiver issued by the Prudential Regulation Authority.
Job Titles:
- Independent Non - Executive Director
- Non - Executive Director and Chair of Audit Committee of Saga Plc
Gareth Hoskin - Independent Non-Executive Director Appointed: November 2015, Vice Chair and Senior Independent Director since January 2019. Board committees: Chair of Audit and member of Board Risk, Nominations and Remuneration committees. Strengths and experience: Gareth has acquired extensive experience during his 30 years working in financial services, both in the UK and abroad. This included almost 20 years at Legal & General plc as a director and CEO of the international division, and before this was a chartered accountant at PricewaterhouseCoopers. His responsibilities as Chair of the Audit Committee include safeguarding the independence of the Internal Audit function and acting as our whistleblowing champion. Other roles: Gareth is a non-executive director and Chair of Audit Committee of Saga plc and a non-executive director and Chair of Acromas Insurance Company Ltd. "As Chair of the Audit Committee, it's my responsibility to make sure our financial statements are fair, balanced and include all the information you, as a member or stakeholder, need to assess and understand our performance. My other responsibilities include monitoring the integrity of external financial reporting, as well as safeguarding and assessing the effectiveness, performance and independence of the Internal Audit function and overseeing the tender and appointment of our new external auditor. Additionally, I act as our whistleblowing champion and ensure our culture welcomes open and transparent discussions."
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Independent Non - Executive Director
- Chairman of Governors at Leeds Beckett University
- Trustee and Treasurer of Macmillan Cancer Support
Iain Cornish - Chair and Independent Non-Executive Director Appointed: Independent Non-Executive Director in January 2019 and Chair of the board in April 2020. Board committees: Chair of Nominations Committee and member of Remuneration Committee. Strengths and experience: Iain has worked in the financial services industry for over 30 years. His previous roles include CEO of Yorkshire Building Society and Chair of the Building Societies Association. Iain has also held several non-executive posts, such as: Treasury Select Committee Special Advisor and Independent Director for the Prudential Regulatory Authority and chaired the Financial Services Authority Practitioner Panel. In addition to significant experience within the sector, Iain has relevant risk and audit committee experience. Other roles: Iain is a trustee and treasurer of Macmillan Cancer Support. Iain is also Chair of Governors at Leeds Beckett University. "As Chair, my role is to lead your board in overseeing the performance of the Society and the development and implementation of its strategy. Our purpose of putting home ownership within reach of more people, generation after generation, is true to our roots as a building society, and I firmly believe it is right for our members. Over the last year, the board's focus has been on furthering this purpose in a climate which has been difficult for our borrowers and our savers. We are not expecting any significant recovery in the economy in 2024, so my priority will be to make sure that the Society continues to offer sustainable good value to savers, and enables as many borrowers as possible to buy the homes they want. At the same time, I will be concentrating on ensuring that the Society remains financially secure for the future, and that the substantial investments which we are making to improve services to members are managed well, and that they deliver the benefits intended."
Job Titles:
- Independent Non - Executive Director
- Non - Executive Director and Chair of Board
Neil Fuller - Independent Non-Executive Director Appointed: December 2020. Board committees: Chair of Board Risk Committee and member of Audit and Remuneration committees. Strengths and experience: Neil has over 39 years' experience in retail banking and financial services. Before joining the Society, Neil was the Chief Risk Officer and Executive Board Director at the Bank of Ireland UK plc and Chief Risk Officer at GE Capital Bank Ltd. Neil also previously held a variety of roles including Risk Director and Chief Risk Officer in the UK retail division of Royal Bank of Scotland and NatWest. Other roles: Neil is a non-executive director and Chair of Board Risk Committee of Cynergy Bank Limited. "I believe the experience I've gained as Chief Risk Officer at different organisations and my strong understanding of risk management and the principal risks facing the financial services sector, bring value and strengthen the board and support me in my role as Chair of Board Risk Committee. My key areas of focus are to make sure the Society remains resilient and manages risk appropriately, particularly in the current economic climate. The ethics of a mutual resonate strongly with me and I very much enjoy working with the Society."
Job Titles:
- Independent Non - Executive Director
- Chartered Banker
- Non - Executive Director of Saga Services Ltd
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Director of UK Finance Limited
Strengths and experience: Richard started his career at Oliver Wyman & Company and spent ten years at Lloyds Banking Group in senior mortgage and savings roles. Richard has an excellent understanding of product development to meet customer needs, as well as strong strategic and commercial skills. As CEO, Richard's responsibilities include promoting the long-term success of the Society, and leading the development and implementation of the Society's strategy and purpose in the interest of its members and other stakeholders.
Other roles: Richard is a director of UK Finance Limited and is a member of the UK Finance Mortgages Product and Service Board.
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer
- Chairman of the Executive Transformation
- Chairman of the UK Finance Digital
Strengths and experience: Before joining Leeds Building Society, Rob spent over ten years in senior executive technology, operations and change roles, mainly at RBS and Lloyds Banking Group, where he was focused on retail banking. His earlier career included time in telecoms and the Royal Navy, as well as McKinsey and Company where, Rob's role as associate partner allowed him to specialise in advising multinational clients on the design and execution of transformation programmes.
As Chief Operating Officer, Rob is Chair of the Executive Transformation and Operational Resilience committees.
Other roles: Rob is Chair of the UK Finance Digital, Technology and Cyber Product and Service Board. Rob is also a governor, trustee and director of The Grammar School at Leeds.