Important Messages
Our branches and contact centre will be closed on Friday 17 May to ensure our staff are able to attend essential training.
We will be open as usual on Saturday 18 May. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Your Board
Information about Saffron Building Society
Board of Directors
The Board of Saffron Building Society includes three full-time Executive Directors and six Non-Executive Directors. The Chair is responsible for leading the Board and is not involved in the day-to-day management of the Society. The Board is responsible for directing and supervising the Society. It sets the strategy for the business, ensures that the correct financial and human resources are in place for the Group to meet its objectives and reviews management performance.
Click on the images below to find out more information about each of the directors.
Board of Directors
Biography
Appointment: January 2022
Experience: John is a customer centric commercial leader, with a track record of connecting businesses with their consumers. His executive career spans, retail, telecoms, public sector and financial services including senior roles at Dixons Stores Group, Vodafone, Three, Eircom and the Money Advice Service.
Committee Membership: Board.
External Appointments: None.
Biography
Appointment: April 2014
Experience: Colin has held a number of senior finance positions with Barclays, Caudwell Group and Willis Group having previously qualified with PwC. Colin is a Chartered Accountant (FCA). He joined the Board in 2014 as Chief Financial Officer before being promoted to Chief Executive Officer in September 2015.
Committee Membership: Board and Nominations Committee
External Appointments: None.
Biography
Maurice has been with the Society for 6 years and heads up the finance and property departments. Maurice is a Certified Chartered Accountant (FCCA) and had an extensive career as a practice accountant and auditor pre his time at Saffron, working on various industries such as tech, financial services, retail and construction. He joined the Society in 2017 as the Financial Controller before being promoted to Deputy Chief Financial Officer in 2020 and Chief Financial Officer in January 2023.
Committee Membership: Board
External Appointments: None
Biography
Appointment: February 2024
Experience: Geoffrey has more than 40 years’ experience in financial services and IT services. Following an early career in investment banking he became Group Finance Director of the global financial broker, Exco International plc, which was followed by a move to Brussels, initially as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of SWIFT and later as CFO of Global One, the global telecoms provider. He returned to the UK as Group FD of Xansa, the FTSE listed IT company before undertaking a number of major interim financial roles including: Finance Director of the Bank of England, Business Finance Director for Co-operative Financial Services and latterly Chief Financial Officer of Northern Rock plc during its reconstruction. Geoff was also a Non-Executive Director (and deputy Chairman) of Citadele Banka SC (the Latvian equivalent to NR). He was a Non-Executive Director & latterly Chairman of Saffron Building Society from 2011 to 2020.
Committee Membership: Board, Nominations Committee.
External Appointments: None.
Biography
Appointment: January 2021
Experience: Robin has over 20 years’ experience in senior financial services roles. His early career was spent in consulting with Touche Ross, where he qualified as a Chartered Management Accountant and then in retail with Sears Group. In 1997 he joined Barclays Bank Group and held senior roles in its credit card business, as Deputy Finance Director at Barclaycard and as Chief Financial Officer of Barclays Private Bank. In 2002 he joined Scarborough Building Society as CFO becoming CEO in 2008 prior to its merger with Skipton Building Society where he became Commercial Director. In 2012 he joined Leeds Building Society where he was Chief Financial Officer.
Committee Membership: Board, Risk Committee and Audit Committee (Chair).
External Appointments: Member of the Risk and Audit Committee of Ripon Cathedral
Biography
Appointment: April 2020
Experience: David has 40 years’ experience in financial services across both consumer and corporate lending in the UK and across Europe. His executive career includes both risk management and business leadership roles within Lloyd’s Banking Group (1988-2000) and GE Capital (2000-2016) where latterly he was CRO of the European Leasing division, Managing Director of the Green Financing division and CRO and Management Board Member of GE’s Dutch bank, Artesia.
Committee Membership: Board, Risk Committee (Chair), Remuneration Committee and Audit Committee
External Appointments: Director of Richmond Consulting Ltd
Biography
Appointment: September 2022
Experience: Jaz has over 30 years’ experience in financial services, with extensive expertise in data, digital and cultural transformation, as an Executive, Main Board and INED, at Aviva, Benfield, GE Money, HBOS, NPG Wealth Management, Prudential, WTW and with PE-backed firms. As an INED and Trustee with RiverStone Insurance Ltd, Network Homes Ltd, British Foreign Schools Society and Council Member of the British Heart Foundation, and previously held a visiting professorship in Digital Change Management.
Committee Membership: Board, Risk Committee and Remunerations Committee.
External Appointments: Independent Chairman of Watmos Ltd; Independent Non-executive director of A2 Dominion; Independent Non-Executive Director of BHSF Group Ltd, BHSF Management Services Ltd and BHSF Employee Benefits Ltd; and Independent Non-Executive Director and Member of Council at Cranfield University.
Biography
Appointment: September 2023
Experience: Caroline is a seasoned C-level Executive with over 25 years’ experience in retail, consumer goods and hospitality. Leveraging technology to optimise the customer experience, she brings deep expertise in digital transformation, marketing and business strategy. She holds a BSc (Econ) from the London School of Economics and an MBA from the Wharton School of Business.
Committees: Board
External Appointments: Non-Executive Director at Europ Assistance; Trustee of Asthma + Lung UK; Non-Executive Director of the Museum of London Trading Board; Director of C-Squared Consulting Ltd
Biography
Appointment: May 2015
Experience: Jenny has over 25 years’ experience spanning consumer goods, media and oil/utilities as a marketing and Commercial leader. Her career included Senior Commercial Leader and Chief Marketing Officer in Procter & Gamble, Mars, Yell Group and SSE. She now runs her own business consulting across business and charitable sectors with a focus on marketing strategy, innovative propositions and the implications of digital marketing on sales, products and customer service.
Committee Membership: Board, Audit Committee and Remuneration Committee (Chair)
External Appointments: Non-Executive Director of Commonwealth Games England
About Saffron
About Saffron
Saffron Building Society is your regional building society that understands your needs. We pride ourselves on being a mutual organisation, which means we're owned by you, our members and exist solely for your benefit.
Find out moreGroup Structure
For details of the companies included in the SBS Group, please see our SBS Group Structure
Group Structure