Chairman - Michael Pratt BA, FCA
Born in 1956, Michael was first appointed to the Board in September 1996. He is a chartered accountant and the senior partner in the firm of Gibbons and Company, which operates throughout West Cumbria. In 2005 Michael was appointed Vice-Chairman of the Society and also Chairman of the Society’s Audit and Risk Committee, and in June 2007 was appointed Chairman of the Society.
Michael is married with 3 children and lives in Workington.
Vice-Chairman - Richard Atkinson LLB
Born in 1953, Richard was Vice-Chairman of the West Cumbria Building Society and joined the Cumberland’s Board as a non-executive director in 1997, following the merger of the two societies. Richard is a solicitor and a partner in Milburns, a practice that operates throughout West Cumbria. In June 2007, Richard was appointed Vice-Chairman of the Society and Chairman of the Society's Audit and Risk Committee.
Richard lives near Cockermouth and is married with 6 children.
Simon Berry
Born in 1959, Simon was first appointed to the Society’s Board in January 2003 and he is currently also a member of the Audit and Risk Committee. Simon is a Chairman and Managing Director of English Lakes Hotels Group, which has hotels and other leisure businesses in South Cumbria and North Lancashire. He is also a director of the Lake District Tourism and Conservation Partnership.
Simon is married with 3 children and lives near Windermere.
David Clarke BSc FCIM, FCIMC
Born in 1948, David joined the Society as a non-executive director in February 2005. Before retiring in 2003, he was a director at the UK Division of Scottish Power plc. Born in Morecambe, he is a business graduate with more than 20 years’ board level experience in marketing and customer service. David serves on the boards of Forensic Science Service Limited and The Information Commissioner. He is also a Trustee of South Lakeland Council for Voluntary Service and Chairman of The Abbeyfield (Kirkby Lonsdale) Society Ltd.
David is married, with 2 grown up children and lives near Kirkby Lonsdale.
Charles Waddington BCom, FCA
Born in 1949, Charles joined the Society as a non-executive director in February 2007. Up until March 2001 he was a partner with KPMG in Manchester and Preston. Charles has a wide range of financial and commercial experience. He is currently a non-executive director of Cumbria Waste Management Limited and represents the Wordsworth Trust in the strategic partnership looking at World Heritage Site status for the Lake District.
Charles is married with one son and lives in Halton Green near Lancaster.Harriet Sykes BA (Econ), MCIPR
Born in 1955, Harriet joined the Society as a non-executive director in 2001. Born in Carlisle, she is a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and has worked for the British Tourist Authority, the English Tourist Board and the National Trust. Harriet is a partner in a PR agency and runs a self-catering holiday business. She is a non-executive director of Cumbria Tourist Board and also chairs the North West Farm Tourism Initiative Steering Committee and the Cumbria Grant Panel.
Harriet is married with one son and lives in Talkin, near Brampton
