Our Board & Senior Management Team

Des is an accomplished senior leader in Financial Services in both the UK and Ireland, with deep experience in both retail and commercial banking. Prior to joining the Society, Des spent five years as Managing Director of AIB (NI). He was responsible for leading the restructure and turnaround of the bank. Des is a Chartered Director with the Institute of Directors, and has been leading the transformation of the Society.

Des is also a Non-Executive Director of North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust.

The COO has responsibility for direction and control of all organisation operations in accordance with strategy and business planning as agreed by the CEO and the Board. Susanne leads the Operations and Customer Service functions and supports the Society by ensuring entire enterprise operational resilience.

Susanne has over 25 years’ experience in Financial Services with a degree in Banking & Finance (LIBF) and a MSc in Leadership & Management. Having spent her career with The Cumberland, she has extensive experience working across the business in both branches and head office, leading teams of all sizes, from our smaller branches to one of our largest teams in Operations.

Richard has significant experience in the UK financial services sector. As Deputy Chief Financial Officer and Chief Data Officer at CYBG PLC, he helped lead the successful demerger and IPO of Clydesdale Bank PLC from National Australia Bank, and led the restructure and cultural transformation of the finance function.

Since joining the Society, Richard has led changes to the treasury function to allow greater sophistication in risk management, as well as improving operational design of the finance function to position them to support the delivery of the Cumberland 2025 strategy. He also oversees the Governance, Legal and Secretariat functions.

Richard is also a Non-Executive Director of Kingdom Bank Limited, as well as Chair of its Audit Committee.

The CRO is responsible for overseeing risk management across the Group on behalf of the Board. He is accountable for enabling the efficient and effective governance of significant risks and related opportunities for the business and its subsidiaries. John oversees the management of standard risk categories: strategic, credit, operational, financial, conduct and regulatory, and supports the CEO and SLT to manage the risks in their respective business areas.

John is a qualified accountant, with experience across risk, including credit risk, compliance and as a CRO covering retail and commercial lending and other banking products. He was previously CRO at Together Personal Finance and held senior risk roles at Nationwide Building Society, GMAC and Capital One.

The CPO is responsible for leading on people strategy. Jill oversees the development of people and culture across the business, providing support across the People function including recruitment, retention, talent development and performance objectives. In addition to this, she provides organisational development functions including leadership development, reward, wellbeing and safety, team maturity, inclusion and diversity.

Jill has a Marketing degree, is CIPD qualified and has 25 years’ experience leading HR teams for organisations including the Guardian Media Group and Border Television plc. She also has experience of successfully running her own HR consultancy business.

The CIO is responsible for leading on technology strategy and operations.

Ian is a technology expert with over 25 years’ experience in financial services. Previously Head of International Operations at Barclays, and with experience working as a consultant at major international consultancy firms, recently Ian has held Chief Operating Officer positions at start-up challenger banks in London.

Claire is a Chartered Banker with many years’ experience in the retail banking sector. Prior to moving into the role of CCO she had held the role of Head of Retail Distribution since 2019. Claire moved to The Cumberland from Virgin Money where she was Head of Stores and Lounges, and prior to this enjoyed success in a several senior manager roles at the Halifax.

John has been involved in banking and financial services for over 35 years, and still holds active positions as non-executive director on the boards of several financial services companies. During his career, John was an executive director at both
Clydesdale Bank PLC and National Australia Bank Europe Limited. Whilst at National
Australia Bank, he held a number of senior positions and was a member of its
executive committee.

John is also a Non-Executive Director of Together Money Personal Finance Limited where he Chairs the Board Risk Committee, as well as a Non-Executive Director of Stubbers Adventure Centre Limited and Stubbers Trading Limited.

Kelli’s background is in consumer and technology businesses. She is currently CEO of technology start-up xigxag after co-founding the company, and was previously Chief Operating Officer of Gelato. Formerly a US Army Captain and an MBA graduate of Harvard Business School, Kelli previously led the entry to market of Premier Inn in Germany whilst working at Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants.

Kelli is also the Co-Founder and CEO of xigxag Limited.

Vicky has worked in international financial services for over 25 years, latterly as a Managing Director of Deutsche Bank Wealth Management. Her experience spans change, risk and regulations, and she has UK board experience in the not-for-profit as well as the financial services sector.

Vicky is also a Non-Executive Trustee of Hope and Homes for Children and the Agitos Foundation, as well as a Consultant at the International Paralympic Committee.

Eric spent his entire career at Clydesdale Bank PLC, most recently as Chief Risk Officer and a member of its Executive Management Team. Eric was responsible for managing the UK risk profile of National Australia Bank Group as part of a career of almost 40 years in the UK banking sector.

Jackie has over 35 years’ experience in business and financial management roles, and was
most recently Head of Strategy at BAE Systems. Prior to this, she held a number of other senior positions with BAE Systems and was Managing Director of Lakeland Power Limited.

Jackie is currently a Professor of Practice at the University of Cumbria, and a Leader in Residence at Lancaster University.

Mark has over 30 years’ experience in the accountancy sector, and is a Senior Partner and Managing Partner with a West Cumbria-based chartered accountancy practice.

Mark is currently a Senior Partner and Managing Partner at Gibbons, as well as a Director of Gibbons Wealth Management Limited, Gibbons Properties Limited and Carleton Properties (Cumbria) Limited.

A people centred leader with core strengths in strategy, delivery and customer focus, Anna has worked with a number of FTSE100, FTSE250 and regulatory organisations at senior level.

Anna is now a Managing Partner and one of the founders of Tessiant, a bespoke strategy and transformation consultancy.