The Board of Directors

Appointed Chair in January 2018, having joined the board in 2015.

Strengths and experience

Jack has held numerous senior management and executive roles during his 40-year career within the financial services and risk management sectors. Included are: Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Sainsbury’s Bank; Retail Risk Management Director of Bank of Scotland; Group Security Director of Lloyds Banking Group; and UK Managing Director of Risk Management at National Bank of Australia (Europe).

Society roles

Jack is also Chair of the Nominations and Governance Committee and a member of the Remuneration Committee.

Personal Message for 2021

I am immensely proud to serve our Society as its Chairman. Since joining the Board I have sought to create and oversee our strategy to become a strong, resilient, efficient and prosperous regional building society. Our objective is to be a more sustainable business for the benefit of our Members, colleagues and the community. I would be proud to continue to serve as your Chairman and would ensure that our Society continues to invest in its future, deliver improved services to you whilst continuing to strengthen our business in a safe and secure way.

Appointed Vice-Chair in October 2018 having joined the board as a Non-Executive Director in April 2013.

Strengths and experience

A Teessider by birth, Robert spent over 30 years in local media, latterly as Regional Managing Director of Trinity Mirror North East, publishers of the Gazette in Middlesbrough and the Chronicle, Journal and Sunday Sun in Newcastle.

Society roles

Robert is Chairman of the Remunerations Committee, Senior Independent Director (subject to PRA approval) and a member of Board Risk & Compliance Committee.

Other roles:  Robert is an MBE for services to business and economic development on Teesside.

Personal Message for 2021

As a local lad I’m very proud to serve as Vice Chair. I care deeply about the Society and am excited by its ambitious plans for the years ahead. I’m particularly keen on our impact locally –investing in our branch network, serving you our members, supporting our colleagues and of course, our communities through our 5% pledge.

Appointed: Chief Executive in December 2018.

Strengths and experience

Andrew started his career at Barclays Bank where he spent 20 years. From there he moved to Allied Irish Bank where he spent a further 10 years, latterly as UK Chief Operating Officer. He was Chief Executive Officer of the Buckinghamshire Building Society for 4 years before joining the Society in December 2018.
Andrew has strong strategic and commercial skills as well as an excellent understanding of risk and change management, IT and Operations and developing products to meet customer needs.
As Chief Executive Officer, Andrew has responsibility for developing and proposing the Society’s strategy, corporate objectives and plans, providing leadership to the Society, and maintaining the Society’s business model and culture.

Society roles

Andrew is a member of the Board, Nominations & Governance Committee and Darlington Homes Ltd Board, and attends the Board Risk & Compliance Committee, Audit Committee and Remuneration Committee.
He also chairs the Society Executive Committee and is an ex-officio member of all other Executive level Society Committees.

Other roles:  Andrew is a member of the Darlington Partnership and Darlington Cares Boards and a director/trustee of the Building Societies Association Pension Scheme.

Personal Message for 2021

I am proud to be the CEO of your Society and am passionate about its purpose, member focus and commitment to continual improvement. I aspire for your Society to consistently provide an excellent service and build strong relationships with you, our members. My mission it to build a trusted, values-driven organisation, which continues to thrive, inspire its people and make a real difference to our members and the local community.

Appointed: Non-Executive Director in August 2019.

Strengths and experience

A chartered accountant by background, Kate worked initially at PwC. She subsequently had a varied career spanning sales & marketing, customer services, IT & change management, HR, strategy and risk management, as well as finance. Kate has worked primarily in financial services with roles at Skipton Building Society, First Direct, AXA PPP healthcare, Lloyds Banking Group and Engage Mutual Assurance.

Society roles

Kate is a member of the Audit Committee and Board Risk & Compliance Committee.

Other roles: Kate is a Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee at Cirencester Friendly Society.

Personal Message for 2021

I have over thirty years’ experience in financial services in a wide range of roles. I very much look forward to using this experience alongside my Board colleagues to ensure the Society continues to thrive, deliver relevant products for its Members; create a great working environment for its colleagues, and have a positive impact in its local community.

Appointed: Non-Executive Director in August 2019

Strengths and experience

Angela retired as Deputy CEO and Group Finance Director of the Newcastle Building Society in 2018. She is a Chartered Accountant and Certified Public Accountant with over 30 years’ experience in finance in the UK and abroad. Angela has worked in a variety of positions covering finance, risk, audit, project and corporate planning. She also worked for PwC for 12 years in the UK and USA.

Society roles

Angela became Chair of the Audit Committee on 1 January 2020 and is a member of Board Risk & Compliance Committee.

Other roles: She is a member of Council and Finance Committee for Newcastle University, a Trustee and Chair of Audit Committee for the Percy Hedley Foundation, and Director of William Leech Investments Limited.

Personal Message for 2021

I feel privileged to serve on the Board and use my finance and risk experience to contribute to the ongoing success of the Society. 2021 looks to be another challenging year but I am confident that the Society will balance strong prudential management with doing everything possible to support members, colleagues and local communities at this difficult time. I will continue to challenge and support the Executive in achieving our strategy throughout 2021

Appointed: Non-Executive Director in August 2019.

Strengths and experience

Jessica is the Founder and Managing Director of outsourcing business, Just Williams based in the Tees Valley. Jessica started her career at the Yorkshire Bank before working in the third sector and then 6 years ago launching her own business.

Society roles

Jessica is a member of the Risk Committee and Compliance and Remuneration Committee and a champion for Member Engagement.

Other roles: Jessica is a Fellow of the Institute of Sales and Marketing, a Board member at Teesside University Business School after graduating with an MBA in 2016, an advisor to the Tees Valley Combined Authority Business Engagement Board, the Rural Business Growth Board and ASSIST, a female led network. She is also a mentor for The Girls Network and a champion of small business.

Personal Message for 2021

I am proud to serve the Darlington Building Society, its members and our local community and to champion the importance of such a historic organisation in our region. To ensure we continue to engage with members for the next 160 + years in a sustainable multichannel way whilst investing in our organization for your family and for all our future generations.

Appointed: Non-Executive Director in October 2017.

Strengths and experience

Ian has over 40 years’ experience in retail financial services having held number of executive roles in banks with a focus on strategy, organizational change and risk management. Ian now follows a portfolio career combining board advisory and non-executive roles.

Society roles

Ian is Chairman of the Board Risk & Compliance Committee and a member of Audit Committee.

Personal Message for 2021

Darlington is a strong, ambitious society firmly rooted in putting our members and communities at the forefront of everything it does. If re-elected, I look forward to continuing this focus and to contributing to the future growth and success in a changing world.

Appointed: Chief Operating Officer having joined the Society in September 2017 as Chief Risk Officer.

Strengths and experience

Chris has over 20 years’ financial services experience, including 2 years at Royal Bank of Scotland, 2 years Yorkshire Building Society and 15 years at Lloyds Banking Group. He has extensive knowledge of Treasury and Market Risk and spent his first 2 years at the Society as Chief Risk Officer.

Chris as Chief Operating Officer is responsible for the IT, Change, Marketing and mortgages/savings support functions.

Society roles

Chris attends Board Risk and Compliance Committee and the Audit Committee.  He chairs the Society’s Risk Management Committee and Operations and Change Committee and is a member of all other Society Executive Committees.

Other roles: Chris is Treasurer at the 700 Club housing charity in Darlington, and a Director of his local rugby club.

Personal Message for 2021

As an member of the Board and Management Executive, if re-elected, my goal is to make it easy and simple for our current and future members to save for their future or have a mortgage with the Society, with flexibility to suit their personal circumstances.

Appointed: Christopher became Finance Director in 2015 having previously joined the Society in 2012.

Strengths and experience

Christopher is a chartered accountant and fellow of the ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales). He has worked for the Society for over 8 years having previously worked for PwC as an external auditor of financial services firms.

Society roles

Christopher attends Board Risk and Compliance Committee and the Audit Committee. He chairs the Society Asset and Liability Committee and the Product and Pricing Committee. Christopher also attends Risk Management Committee.

Other roles: Christopher chairs the South Tees Development Corporation Audit and Risk Committee and chairs the North East Shadow Monetary Policy Committee. He is also a Governor at a local school.

Personal Message for 2021

I take a lot of pride in working for a local, mutual orgnisation which makes a real difference in its community. My role is to ensure the long term financial strength and resilience of our Society. We have successfully managed significant challenges in the past year and I look forward to helping drive the Society forwards in 2021 and beyond.