Our Board & Senior Management Team
Senior Management
Des Moore - Chief Executive
Des was appointed as the Society's Chief Executive and joined the Board in April 2018. He has over 30 years' experience in retail and commercial banking. Before joining the Society, Des spent 5 years as Managing Director of First Trust Bank, the trading division of AIB (UK) plc's Northern Ireland operations. He has also held a number of previous senior positions at Bank of Ireland, Permanent TSB and National Irish Bank.
Richard Ellison - Chief Financial Officer
Richard joined the Society and Board as Chief Financial Officer in April 2019. He was previously interim Finance Director of Newcastle Building Society Group. Prior to this, Richard was Deputy Chief Financial Officer and Chief Data Officer of CYBG PLC where he played a leading role in the successful demerger and IPO of Clydesdale Bank PLC from NAB, and led the restructure and cultural transformation of the finance function.
Alex Windle - Chief Customer Officer
Alex joined The Cumberland in May 2016, bringing a wealth of strategy, marketing and commercial experience from some well known brands including BP, LG and Vodafone.
Susanne Parry - Chief Operating Officer
Susanne has spent her career with The Cumberland, building extensive knowledge across the business. She has experience working in branch and across Head Office within People, Operations and most recently Change.
Jill Johnston - Chief People Officer
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.
Will O'Carroll - Chief Risk Officer
Will has 20 years experience in financial services covering mainly risk but also product and channel management. He joined The Cumberland in July 2017, having previously held senior risk roles at Tesco Bank and Commonwealth Bank of Australia.
Non-Executive Directors
John Hooper - Chairman
Born in 1961, John joined the Board as a Non-Executive Director in November 2015, and was appointed Chairman in July 2019. He is also Chair of the Nomination and Governance Committee. John has extensive banking experience, having been an Executive Director at National Australia Bank Europe Limited and Clydesdale Bank PLC, with responsibilities including finance, treasury, IT and risk. He previously held a number of senior positions at National Australia Bank. John lives near Knaresborough and has a home and business interests in Cumbria.
Jacqueline Arnold
Jackie joined the Board as a Non-Executive Director in March 2018. She is Chair of the People, Remuneration and Culture Committee, and a member of the Audit Committee and the Nomination and Governance Committee. Jackie has over 35 years’ experience in financial and business management. Her most recent position was Head of Strategy at BAE Systems. Prior to this, she held a number of other senior positions with BAE Systems and was Managing Director at Lakeland Power Limited. Jackie is Pro Vice Chancellor of the University of Cumbria. In 2016, she was awarded an MBE for services to the Cumbria economy. She lives near Barrow-In-Furness.
Eric Gunn
Born in 1961, Eric joined the Society as a Non-Executive Director in November 2016. He is Chair of the Board Risk Committee and a member of the Nomination and Governance Committee. Eric has almost 40 years’ experience of the UK banking sector, having spent his entire career at Clydesdale Bank PLC. His most recent role was Chief Risk Officer and member of the Executive Management Team, with responsibility for managing the risk profile of the UK operations of the National Australia Bank Group. Prior to this, Eric held a number of senior roles within Clydesdale Bank in the UK. Eric lives in Linlithgow.
Vicky Bruce
Vicky joined the Board as a Non-Executive Director in November 2020. She is a member of the Nomination and Governance Committee and the Board Risk Committee. Vicky has more than 25 years’ international financial services experience, most recently as a Global Chief Operating Officer with Deutsche Bank Wealth Management. She has extensive global experience in change, risk and regulation with UK board experience in financial services and not-for-profit sectors. Other Non-Executive roles she currently holds are as Trustee for both the Hope and Homes for Children charity and the German-based Agitos Foundation.
Mark Stanger
Mark joined the Board as a Non-Executive Director in June 2018. He is Chair of the Audit Committee and a member of the Board Risk Committee and Nomination and Governance Committee. Mark has over 30 years’ experience in the accountancy sector and is a Senior Partner and Managing Partner with Gibbons, the West Cumbrian-based chartered accountancy practice. Until recently, he was a member of the Board of Governors at Lakes College in Lillyhall, where he was also Chairman of the Board for six years. Mark lives in Workington.
Kelli Fairbrother
Kelli joined the Board as a Non-Executive Director in November 2020. She is a member of the Nomination and Governance Committee and the People, Remuneration and Culture Committee. Kelli joins with a wealth of experience as co-founder and CEO of early stage digital media B2C technology start-up xigxag and former Chief Operating Officer for global print technology company Gelato. The Harvard Business School MBA graduate and former U.S. Army Captain previously led the €300 million Germany market entry for the Premier Inn and Costa brands as Business Development and Commercial Director at Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants.
Michael Hulme
Born in 1957, Michael joined the Board as a Non-Executive Director in September 2015. He is the Senior Independent Director, and a member of the Audit Committee, Nomination and Governance Committee, and the People, Remuneration and Culture Committee. Michael’s background is in research and consultancy, examining technological change and its current and future impact on strategy and behaviour. Having served on both public and private company boards, he has over 20 years’ experience as a Non-Executive Director. Michael lives in Arnside.