Our Board

Chair of Audit Committee

I serve as the Chair of Audit Committee and am a member of the Remuneration, Risk and Governance and Nominations Committees. My experience across the different sectors of financial services, payments, professional services, multimedia and telecoms enables me to contribute to the Society's change programme and to the Society's continuing success.

I am a qualified accountant (ACA) and have an MA in Languages and Economics. I trained and qualified at Ernst & Young in the Financial Services audit department followed by a further three years in corporate tax. During my career, I have performed a broad range of roles across multiple sectors including a term of six years as a Non-Executive Director of the West Bromwich Building Society. I also serve as a Non-Executive Director of Glendrake Limited.

Chair of Remuneration Committee

I’m a Member of Audit Committee, Governance and Nominations Committee and Chair Remuneration Committee. My experience in the Fintech and E-commerce arenas enable me to make a positive contribution to the Society’s ongoing digital transformation, supporting the continued delivery of stand-out experience for our Members.

During my career, I have held a range of Executive and Non-Executive Director positions and have worked in consultancy roles in the UK, Europe and the US. I spent 5 years at the Britannia Building Society, and held senior roles at Tesco Compare and Confused.com.

I also hold roles as a Non-Executive Director of Co-Op Insurance, Non-Executive Director of the Milford Haven Port Authority. I am a Trustee of the Alacrity Foundation, Chair of GCRE Ltd, and a Director of Awen Consulting Services Ltd. I am also a proud ambassador for Tŷ Hafan.

I was appointed Chief Financial Officer in July 2022. My remit extends across Finance & Treasury, Commercial Lending, Strategy, Architecture, Nemo and Property. I joined the Society in January 2015 initially as Finance Director for Nemo (Principality's second-charge loans subsidiary) before becoming Nemo's Managing Director. My role is to ensure we plan and manage the Society’s capital, liquidity and funding in the long-term interests of our Members and the sustainability of the Society.

Prior to my current role, I was appointed Chief Operating Officer in October 2017 and joined the Board in December 2019. I am also a director and Chair, Nemo Personal Finance Ltd. I am a Chartered Accountant with more than 20 years' experience across retail banking and start-up and private equity owned consumer financial services businesses in the UK.

I also hold the role of Non-Executive Director at Hafren Dyfrdwy.

Chair of Board Risk Committee  

My experience across retail, business, wealth and asset finance sectors and in risk leadership roles enables me to have oversight of current and emerging risks that will ensure that the Society continues to be successful and sustainable for its Members.

I have 30 years of experience in domestic and international banking within globally renowned organisations including Lloyds Banking Group, Barclays Bank plc and GE Capital. I was a Non-Executive Director for TransUnion UK and Vanquis Bank. I also hold roles as a Non-Executive Director at Lendable Limited and FCE Bank plc (trading as Ford Credit).    

I was appointed as Chief Executive Officer in 2020. Prior to that I had been the Society’s Customer Director since 2012. Before joining Principality, I was a senior manager in sales, marketing and technology for companies like Sainsbury’s and HBOS. Working closely with customers has always been a critical part of what I do.  

I am passionate about the Society, ensuring we build on our mutual ethos and values, rooted in our communities. I’m passionate about meeting your needs and delivering fantastic customer experiences. My role is to lead the Executive team to ensure we continue to deliver the Society’s strategy for the long-term interests of our Members and ensure that the organisation runs smoothly day-to-day, supporting colleagues and building an inclusive and engaging culture.

I am also a member of the UK Finance Mid-Tier Strategic Advisory Committee, a member of the International Advisory Board of Cardiff Business School, a Trustee of the Wales Millennium Centre and Deputy Chair for BSA.

I am a member of Remuneration Committee, Board Risk Committee and Governance and Nominations Committee.

I have been actively involved in building and running businesses, incubators, innovation policy, fund management, and venture capital for over 20 years across the US, Europe, and the Middle East and am also a prolific and active Angel Investor across those territories in my own right. During my career I have built and managed significant investments and portfolios and served with some of Europe’s leading Private Equity firms with investments in over 50 companies.

I am highly experienced in mergers and acquisitions, fund raising, IPOs and exits. I have extensive board experience (listed companies through to SMEs and start-ups) and currently serve on three boards in a non-executive capacity. I am known globally as an innovation policy and incubator and corporate governance expert and provide consulting services in this area to SMEs and government establishments across EMEA. I am also well regarded in the field of board evaluations and assessments, and work with institutions, family offices, and funds to design, build, and leverage boards to becomes effective in their objectives. 

I am on the Boards of The Royal Mint Limited and Carousel Solutions. I am also on the advisory boards for the North East Fund (NEF), Miratech Limited and HaysMckintrye and an active member of the Young President’s Association (YPO), currently serving on the Chapter Committee.

Joined the Board in January 2024, elected Chair in April 2024. Chair of Governance and Nominations Committee. Member of Remuneration Committee.

I have over 30 years in the financial sector working for Lloyds Banking Group, Chase Manhattan Bank, ABN AMRO and Barclays Bank, including Managing Director for Barclays Commercial Wales and the South West. I serve as chair of another leading mutual organisation, LV=, the UK life assurance company, as well as serving on a number of other boards. 

I am responsible for leading the work of the Board, ensuring the Board operates effectively in setting the strategy, overseeing the performance and setting the risk appetites of the Society. I am also responsible for ensuring robust succession plans are in place, that the Society maintains the highest standards of corporate governance and that we have an open and transparent culture.

My experience as public, private and mutual company board chair and career in the financial sector, with a grounding in regulation, governance, risk, compliance, financial performance, customer service, executive remuneration and member relationships, will give me the oversight required as a member of the board and to contribute to the continued success of the Society.

As well as chair of Liverpool Victoria Financial Services Limited, I am a Non-Executive Director of  W.H. Ireland Group PLC.

I am a qualified accountant (ACA) with a degree in Law. I trained and qualified with KPMG in South Wales, gaining experience across audit, risk management, internal audit and governance and across a broad industry range including financial services. Executive roles have included Head of Risk and Head of Investor Relations at Admiral Group Plc and Chief Financial Officer for Confused.com, Penguin Portals and ZPG Group. 

My career in professional services gives me a wide experience in financial performance, regulation, governance, risk, and compliance, whilst my experience in the financial services sector means that I am focused on customer outcomes and digital transformation. 

I am on the Council of Clifton College Group where I chair the Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee. I also sit on the Cardiff Capital Region Business Council.

Motivated by purpose, and having previously served as Chair & Trustee, I had the great privilege of spending the past four years as CEO of Tŷ Hafan, the Children’s Hospice in Sully which, together with Tŷ Gobaith in North Wales, is proudly supported by Principality’s fantastic charity partnership. I was the recipient of the Institute of Directors ‘Director of the Year’ award 2021 and over my 30+ year career I have gained a breadth of experience both locally and internationally. In senior executive roles such as Management Consulting Partner at Arthur Andersen and Unisys, Director of Client Services at a US software company, Managing Director at KPMG, Digital Transformation Director at Barclaycard, and Interim CIO for Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water I have been ‘hands on’ delivering complex digitally enabled business transformation and cultural change programmes. 
 
I am honoured to have the opportunity to contribute my skills and experience to another fantastic Welsh organisation. In my role as Non-Executive Director, I will provide stewardship and support for the talented Executive team and colleagues across the society, for whom a key focus will be delivery of the ambitious transformation programme. This is designed to ensure Principality’s long term, sustainable success, while retaining and building upon the mutual’s proud Welsh heritage, ethos, and values.

I also hold the role of Director at Timon Samra Associates Ltd.