Our Board & Senior Management Team

Des is an accompanied senior leader in the financial services sector in both the UK and Ireland, with extensive experience in both retail and commercial banking. Prior to joining the Society, Des spent five years as Managing Director of AIB (NI) and was responsible for leading the restructure 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 at North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust.

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 future of the Society. He also oversees the Governance, Legal & Secretariat functions.

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 Once.

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 leading enterprise Operational Resilience and Information Security.

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 officer, leading teams of all sizes, from our smaller branches to once of our largest teams in Operations.

Susanne is also a Trustee and the Chair of Audit & Risk Committee at Tullie Museum and Art Gallery as well as the Vice-Chair of the University of Cumbria Students’ Union Board.

The CITO is responsible for leading on technology strategy, technology operations, and for delivering the Society’s change agenda, including its transformation programme.

Ian is an experienced transformation and technology leader with over 35 years’ experience in financial services. He has global transformation experience with major consultancy firms and international banks. He was previously the Head of International Operations at Barclays, Retail CIO at First Abu Dhabi Bank and has held the role of Chief Operating Officer at two start-up challenger banks in London.

The CCO is responsible for ensuring the business provides a differentiated and exceptional customer experience to deliver the business’ income objectives. Claire is accountable for overall customer acquisition and retention. This includes responsibility for the branch network, the direct and introduced lending functions, Product Development, Marketing, First Line Risk, Cumberland Commercial and Borderway Finance.

Claire is a Chartered Banker with over 20 years’ of 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 Society from Virgin Money where she was Head of Stores and Lounges, and prior to this enjoyed success in several senior manager roles within Lloyds Banking Group.

Claire is also a Non-Executive Director at Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership.

The CPSO is responsible for leading on people and sustainability strategy. Jill oversees the development of people and culture across the business, providing support across the People function including recruitment, performance, retention, talent development, engagement and internal communications. In addition to this, Jill provides organisational development initiatives, including leadership development, reward, wellbeing, safety, and diversity and inclusion. Jill is also responsible for the development of the Society’s sustainability approach bringing together a number of initiatives under the Environment, Social and Governance umbrella.

Jill has a Marketing degree, is CIPD qualified and has over 25 years’ experience working in HR across a range of sectors including retail, media and finance including start ups, scale ups, mergers and acquisitions. She has led HR teams and has been part of the Executive team for organisations including the Guardian Media Group (GMG Radio) and Border Television plc. She also has experience of successfully running her own HR consultancy business.

She is also a Non-Executive Director and Chair of Remuneration Committee at the University of Cumbria as well as a Women in Finance Board Member and Chair for Building Society and Credit Union Sectors.

Jackie has over 35 years’ experience in business and financial management roles, and has previously held several senior positions with BAE Systems. She also has significant non-executive experience in the public and education sectors most recently being appointed Non-Executive Director at Furness Education Trust.

Jackie is also a Professor of Practice and Leader in Residence at Lancaster University, the Chair of Trustees at Furness Education Trust and the Consultant Social Purpose at BAE Systems.

Click here to read more about Jackie and her role at The Cumberland.

She is also a Non-Executive Director at Talent Mapper and a Director at ACR Cars Ltd.

Kelli has over 20 years of experience in consumer and technology businesses. She is currently CEO of technology start-up Xigxag a digital media technology start-up she co-founded. She previously served as Group Head of Strategy for Whitbread, President of the International Business of Deluxe Entertainment and Chief Operating Officer of Gelato. She earned her MBA from Harvard Business School.

Vicky has worked in international financial services for over 25 years. Her experience spans change, risk, regulation, wealth management and retail banking and she has UK board experience in financial services and the not-for-profit sector.

Vicky is also a Non-Executive Trustee for the Agitos Foundation and a Consultant for the International Paralympic Committee.

Click here to read more about Vicky and her role at The Cumberland and the International Paralympic Committee.

Mark has over 35 years’ experience in accountancy and financial services. His experience includes risk, audit, regulatory compliance and included a focus on the hospitality sector.

Mark is also a Partner at Armstrong Watson LLP as well as a Director at Gibbons Wealth Management Limited, Gibbons Properties Limited and Carleton Properties (Cumbria) Limited.

Cameron has worked in international financial services for over 35 years. His experience of the sector includes risk, regulation, and sustainability. He also has an extensive background at Board level having chaired Board Audit and Board Risk Committees in other organisations.

Cameron is also a Non-Executive Director and Chair of Audit Committee at Hewlett Packard International Bank DAC; a Non-Executive Director and Chair of Mars Capital Finance Ireland DAC, a Non-Executive Director and Chair of Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee at AIB Merchant Services as well as a Non-Executive Director and Chair at Kroo Bank Ltd.

Richard has been involved in the financial services sector for over 30 years. He was the co-founder of Ci3 which provided risk-management software and IT services to financial institutions and the founder of Governor Software which assists institutions in complying with new governance and risk regulations. He also has an extensive background at Board level having chaired Board Risk Committees both within financial services and non-profit organisations.

Richard is also a Non-Executive Director and Chair of FBD Insurance PLC; a Non-Executive Director and Chair of Citadel Securities; a Non-Executive Director and Chair of Finance & Risk Committee at Tuath Housing; a Senior consultant at MyComplianceOffice Ltd; a Lecturer at The Institute of Banking (Dublin) and a Non-Executive Director at the National Cybersecurity Society.