Our Board

Having joined the Society in 1989, Rob became a member of the Society’s Senior Management team in 2000. He was appointed to the Board in December 2008 as Operations Director before becoming Chief Executive in March 2011. Rob has overall responsibility for managing the Society and implementing strategies agreed by the Board. Rob chairs the Executive Committee and is a member of the Management Assets & Liabilities Committee. Outside the Society, Rob is Vice Chairman of the Building Societies Association and Chairman of Pendle Education Trust.

Neal joined the Society in 1987, becoming a member of the Senior Management team in 2000 prior to being appointed to the Board in December 2008 as Finance Director and Secretary. As Finance Director, Neal is responsible for the Society’s finance and treasury activities, ensuring the integrity of financial and regulatory reporting and managing the Society’s liquidity, funding and capital positions. Neal chairs the Management Assets & Liabilities Committee. Outside the Society, Neal is a Non-Executive Director of Northern Star Academies Trust.

A qualified banker, John spent time with Barclays before moving to Barclays Private Equity, latterly Equistone, where he remained for 21 years. He brings diverse experience as a Non-Executive Director having sat on boards across a range of sectors. John chairs the Nominations Committee and is a member of the People, Remuneration & Culture Committee. Outside the Society, he is Chair at Alliance Fund Managers and Global Autocare Holding Limited and a Non-Executive Director at Worldwide Recruitment Solutions and Fruugo.com.

Mark has extensive risk and governance experience gained within the financial sector holding previous positions at Shawbrook Bank, GMAC and The British Business Bank. He is currently Chief Risk Officer for the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS), a Government agency providing guidance on pensions, debt advice and helping to improve the nation’s overall financial understanding and capability. For the Society, Mark chairs the Board Risk Committee and sits on the Board Audit & Compliance and Nominations Committees. Outside the Society, Mark is now also a Non-Executive Director of Sopra Steria Financial Services Limited.

Previously Operations & HR Director at Cumberland Building Society, Chris has a strong marketing focus with extensive knowledge of change management and operations within the financial services sector. Chris is Chair of the Board Customer & Distribution Committee and is a member of the Board Risk and Board People, Remuneration & Culture Committees. Outside the Society, he is a Non-Executive Director of the Brathay Trust.

Maura is a finance leader with over 25 years’ experience in financial services gained with Credit Suisse, JP Morgan Chase and Morgan Stanley. She has broad accounting and finance experience including treasury, capital and liquidity planning. Maura is a member of the Board Audit and Compliance, Risk and People, Remuneration & Culture Committees. Outside the Society, Maura is currently Deputy Chief Financial Officer with one of the UK’s leading wealth managers and holds Non-Executive Director roles as Chair of the Audit & Risk Assurance Committee of Gov Services Limited and Zurich UK.