Board of Directors and Executive Management

(Chair)

Stephen joined the Board in May 2016 and was appointed Chair in May 2024. He is a Chartered Accountant and a Fellow of ICAEW. He started his career at the Swansea office of accountancy firm Deloitte Haskins & Sells and after qualifying, he joined Coopers & Lybrand, now PwC. Before taking early retirement, he was Director of Financial Shared Services for Tata Steel Europe. 

(Chief Executive)

Alun joined the Society in May 2001 as Director and Chief Executive. Prior to his appointment, he had spent 20 years in retail, business and corporate banking starting with Williams & Glyns Bank Plc and subsequently Bank of Wales Plc. He is a member of the Assets & Liabilities, Credit Risk Management and IT Committees.

(Non Executive Director)

John joined the Board in November 2017 and was appointed as Senior Independent Director in May 2024. He held several senior roles during a long career with Barclays including as Head of Swansea, Mid and West Wales Corporate Banking and as Head of Wales, Corporate Banking. He is currently an Independent Member (Finance) at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board. He is Chair of the Audit Committee and is a member of the Risk Committee.

(Non Executive Director)

(Non Executive Director)

Malcolm was appointed to the Board in January 2022, having worked in retail and commercial banking for 40 years. He began his career with NatWest, before spending 26 years in Lloyds Banking Group, where he held senior risk and credit positions in the Group's business and commercial banking divisions. He then spent a further 6 years as the Chief Risk Officer of Paragon Banking Group before retiring from executive roles at the end of 2019. Malcolm’s Board experience includes non-executive roles with Reliance Bank, the Agricultural Mortgage Corporation, AMC Bank and Citysave Credit Union. Malcolm is Chair of the Society’s Risk Committee and a member of the Audit Committee.

(Non Executive Director)

Sophie was appointed to the Board in January 2023. Sophie is a Solicitor with over 13 years’ experience in commercial litigation with a specific emphasis on commercial debt recovery, professional negligence and acting for banks and building societies. She is a Director at JCP Solicitors in Swansea where she jointly heads up the firm’s Commercial Litigation team. She is also the firm’s Training Principal and an Associate Member of Nara (the Association of Property & Fixed Charge Receivers). Sophie is Chair of the Remuneration and Nominations Committees and a member of the Risk Committee.

(Non Executive Director)

Lynn joined the Board in January 2024. She is a Chartered Accountant and a fellow of both the ICAEW and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy. Lynn currently serves as the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) of the States of Jersey, a 7 year fixed-term, part-time appointment that she commenced in January 1, 2020. Prior to this Lynn enjoyed a 30-year career with PwC, including latterly as Cardiff Office Senior Partner, responsible for leading the firm’s presence in Wales and personally overseeing audit and advisory assignments for clients in the private and public sectors. She is also Chair of the Welsh Sports Association. Lynn is a member of the Remuneration, Nominations, Audit and Risk Committees.

(Finance Director)

(Director of Risk & Compliance)

Catherine joined the Society in January 2017 as a financial accountant, before moving to take responsibility for Risk & Compliance in June 2019. She is a Chartered Accountant with over 25 years’ experience within the South Wales area. She has worked in a variety of accountancy practices, both large and small, including spending 5 years as an external audit manager at KPMG. She also subsequently spent 8 years in industry as a finance manager at Tata Steel. She is Chair of the Conduct Committee and a member of the Credit Risk Management Committee.