Our Board

View our Board’s responsibility and Terms of Reference

  • David Holborn – Chairman

  • Jim Willens – Chief Executive

    My involvement in and passion for the building society sector spans more than 30 years. During this time, I’ve held significant senior posts including Retail Operations Director and Group Services Director at Nationwide. My roles over the years have included strategic responsibility for Branches, Telephony, Internet Services, Technology, Product Development and Central Support Services, which have involved leading teams in excess of 9,000 people.

    My career started out in the ‘field’ as a branch manager and I also held a range of retail and sales management positions. I have a strong track record of delivery, and a passion for developing the people I work with to provide excellent customer service through the mutual business model, both of which are key elements to the Society’s corporate strategy.

  • Ron McCormick – Deputy Chairman

    I have worked in the building society sector as an experienced accountant for many years. I am both a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors. I previously worked as Group Finance Director then Group Commercial Director at Skipton Building Society, posts I held for a total of 14 years. In addition, I have more than seven years’ experience with Guardian Royal Exchange, as well as seven years with KPMG, both in the UK and abroad.

    Following three years on the Newcastle’s Board, in January 2011 I was appointed Deputy Chairman and Senior Independent Director. I’m also a member of the Society’s Audit and Group Risk Committees, and work as a senior adviser to businesses within a range of sectors.

  • Angela Russell – Finance Director

    I am an experienced Chartered Accountant and Certified Public Accountant with over 20 years’ experience in finance in the UK and abroad. I worked in a variety of positions covering finance, risk, audit, project and corporate planning roles. In particular, I have several years’ experience in finance roles within the building society sector, including my current role as Finance Director for the Newcastle, which I have held since 2010. This follows two years with the Society as Group Risk Executive.

    I also held the post of Finance Director at the Universal Building Society (before its merger with the Society in 2006), and I spent 12 years at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. I am also a non-executive director of a North East based care charity.

  • John Morris – Non-Executive Director

    I joined the Society in October 2011. I’m a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and bring to the Society a significant amount of experience of both the banking and building society sectors.

    I worked for several years as Director of Finance for the Retail Banking Division at HBOS. Prior to that, I held senior posts at Halifax (Halifax Building Society and then Halifax PLC) as General Manager, and Leeds Permanent Building Society where I held the post of General Manager Finance. I have also worked at KPMG where I started my accountancy career. I’m also a member of the Society’s Group Risk Committee.

  • Richard Mayland – Non-Executive Director

    I have 30 years’ experience of the accountancy world, including 17 years as a partner at Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP (PwC) before my retirement in 2003. During my time with PwC, I specialised in audit and business advisory services. My time as a partner was spent in the North East before being asked to head the financial services audit practice for the North of England. I also have significant expertise in regulatory and accounting matters as a result of this experience.

    I am Chief Executive of Norprime Ltd, which is a post I have held for five years, and I have been a member of the Newcastle’s board for more than six years. I am also Chairman of the Society’s Audit Committee and a member of both the Nominations and Remuneration Committees.

  • Catherine Vine-Lott – Non-Executive Director

    I joined the Society’s board in January 2010 and I have a total of 34 years experience in the financial services sector, having spent my entire working life in the industry. This includes 18 years at Barclays where my positions included Chief Executive of Barclays Stock Brokers, as well as Barclays Personal Investment Management.

    In addition, I have significant experience with Legal and General both at group board level and in running the wealth management division. I am also an experienced non-executive director and I’m Chairman of Openwork Holdings Limited, Rathbone Brothers PLC and Cranfield University Advisers Committee. At the Society, I am Chairman of the Remuneration Committee.

  • Phil Moorhouse – Non-Executive Director

    I am an experienced board member and professional accountant and I am a Fellow of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants. I have held a number of senior board positions including that of Managing Director (UK) of Northgate PLC, which I held for more than seven years. This followed six years as Finance Director.

    I’m a director of the charity Renew (North East), having been Chairman for several years and at Molins PLC I am Chair of Audit and a Senior Independent Director. Additionally, I sit on the board of Cumbria NHS Partnership Trust. I joined the Society’s board in October 2011 and I am also a member of the Audit Committee.

  • David Buffham – Non-Executive Director

    I have spent most of my career at the Bank of England (BOE), where I held a wide variety of banking and other roles, most recently the post of Bank of England Agent for the North East. While at the BOE I was responsible for reporting to the Monetary Policy Committee on the region’s economy and explaining policy to key stakeholders in the North East.

    I bring this knowledge and experience to the fore as Chairman of the Group Risk Committee and also as a member of the Nominations and Remuneration Committees. I am an experienced non-executive director and, additionally, am a Governor at Northumbria University in Newcastle.