You can find out further details in the Terms of Reference.
Our Board
Meet the members of our Board responsible for everything from making key decisions on strategy to safeguarding the financial interests of our members.
Meet the Board
The role of our Board
The main role of our Board is to focus on the Society's strategy and ensure that all the resources are in place for us to meet our goals and objectives. This includes making sure that the financial controls and risk management systems are robust to protect both the Society and its members.
The Group is headed by the Board which is accountable to the members of the Society and whose principal role is to:
Be collectively responsible for the success, including the long term success, of the Group and for acting in the best interest of the Society and our members as a whole (both current and future). It may also consider the interests of other customers, colleagues, suppliers and the wider community.
Have responsibility for the overall management of the Group within a framework of risk management which supports and directs financial security, fair outcomes and a Group built on trust.
Establish a sustainable business model and set the strategy of the Group consistent with that model.
Develop the culture of the Group and set a ‘tone from the top’ to ensure that the desired values and behaviours are Board-led.
Have oversight of the Group’s operations ensuring that appropriate resources and systems of risk management and internal controls are in place.
You can view the role profiles here of our Chair of the Board, Senior Independent Director and Chief Executive.
The details of all our directors are below.
Non Executive Directors
Executive Directors
Non Executive Directors
Annemarie Durbin BComm, LLB, MSc
Chair of the Board
Board Chair
Joined in 2023 as Board Chair Designate
Became Board Chair in 2024
Background and career
Annemarie has over 35 years of international business and banking experience. She has worked across retail, commercial, corporate and institutional banking. Most of her executive career was at Standard Chartered, a FTSE 100 international bank, where she ultimately joined the Group Executive Committee.
She held senior global roles at Standard Chartered, including CEO and Executive Director of its listed business in Thailand and CEO in the Philippines.
Annemarie’s Non-Executive Director positions have included Petershill Partners PLC, WH Smith Plc, Santander UK plc, Chair of Cater Allen Limited and Chair of the FCA’s Listing Authority Advisory Panel. She is also an executive coach and mentor.
Skills and experience
Extensive expertise in banking, leadership and talent, transformation and corporate governance.
Significant experience in remuneration, including as a Remuneration Committee Chair and in audit, risk and responsible banking from committee roles at Santander UK plc.
Other roles
Senior Independent Director and Chair of Remuneration Committee at Persimmon Plc.
Committee membership
Chair of Board Governance and Nominations Committee.
Peter Bole MA CA
Independent Non-Executive Director
Joined the Board in 2024
Background and career
Peter was the Chief Financial Officer for esure Group plc during a period of digital transformation for the business. Before that, he was Chief Finance Officer at Tesco Bank and Virgin Money, later becoming Group Integration Director at Virgin Money. He has also held senior roles at RBS Insurance, Standard Life and Deloitte.
Skills and experience
Over 25 years in finance leadership roles across banking and insurance.
Expertise in managing growth and transformation in consumer-focused businesses.
Other roles
None.
Committee membership
Chair of Board Audit Committee and member of Board Risk Committee and Board Remuneration Committee.
Elaine Bucknor
Independent Non-Executive Director
Non-Executive Director for Workforce Engagement (from 1 January 2026)
Joined the Board in 2025
Background and career
Elaine has held executive, operational and consultancy roles with leading companies in Telecommunications, Media, Technology, Travel and Utilities.
Her last executive role was at Sky as Group Director of Technology Strategic Services and Group Chief Information Security Officer. She led technology strategy and strengthened cybersecurity across the organisation. Elaine has previously held Non-Executive Director roles at Darktrace plc, Notting Hill Genesis and Smoove Ltd.
Skills and experience
30 years in technology, delivering complex multinational programmes.
Expertise in technology strategies to support organisational transformation and growth.
Other roles
Non-Executive Director for Hoptroff London Ltd, Currys Plc and Reed Global Ltd. Strategic advisor to PwC and an advisor to RiverSafe Ltd and ISTARI.
Committee membership
Member of Board Risk Committee.
Angela Darlington BSC, FIA
Independent Non-Executive Director / Vice Chair / Whistleblowing Champion (from 1 January 2026)
Joined the Board in 2022
Background and career
Angela spent 20 years at Aviva PLC in senior roles, including Chief Executive Officer of UK Life, where she led the UK Insurance business and served on the Aviva Leadership Team.
She was previously Group Chief Risk Officer for Aviva PLC, responsible for risk management at Group level.
Skills and experience
Deep technical expertise in risk and financial services.
Ability to contribute to strategic planning and oversight.
Other roles
Independent Non-Executive Director of Rothesay Life (including member of the Risk Committee, Audit Committee, Governance & Nominations Committee and Customer & Conduct Committee), Member of Council for the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (including Chair of the Finance & Development Committee).
Committee membership
Chair of Board Risk Committee and member of Board Audit Committee and Board Governance and Nominations Committees.
Debra Davies BA Hons, Business Studies
Independent Non Executive Director
Joined the Board in 2023
Background and career
Debra has over 30 years of experience in financial services, including senior roles at American Express where she led the UK Business, global product marketing and the partnerships business across 55 countries. She also represented American Express in significant joint ventures in the Middle East, Belgium and Switzerland, where she was the Chair of Swisscard.
Debra has held a range of non-executive roles with AXA UK plc and Credit Suisse International.
Skills and experience
Expertise in profit and loss leadership, customer service, marketing, technology and digital innovation.
Experience in partnership development and managing complex global businesses.
Other roles
Non-Executive Director and Senior Independent Director at AXA UK plc, Chair of the Remuneration Committee and member of the Audit and Risk Committees. Non-Executive Director of Intrum AB, Chair of the Transformation Committee. Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Remuneration Committee of Nomura International Plc.
Committee membership
Chair of Remuneration Committee and member of Board Risk Committee and Board Environmental and Social Purpose Committee.
Mark Parsons BA, FCMA
Senior Independent Director
Board Consumer Duty / Member Champion
Joined the Board in 2020
Background and career
Mark was Chief Executive of Coventry Building Society from 2014 until 2020. He has extensive experience in retail financial services, including senior roles at Barclays and Abbey National, and time at PwC. At Barclays, he was Chief Finance Officer for Retail and Business Banking and Deputy CEO of Barclays UK Retail Bank.
Skills and experience
Over 35 years in financial services
Expertise across finance, HR, product, retail management, risk and investor relations.
Other roles
Non-Executive Director of Fairstone Capital Group Ltd.
Committee membership
Member of Board Audit Committee, Board Risk Committee, Board Governance and Nominations Committee and Board Environmental and Social Purpose Committee.
Janet Pope BSC Econ, MSc Economics, MBA
Independent Non-Executive Director
Joined the Board in 2024
Background and career
Janet spent 16 years at Lloyds Banking Group, including roles running the savings business and as Chief of Staff and Chief Sustainability Officer, both Group Executive Committee roles.
Janet was previously CEO at Alliance Trust Savings and held senior roles at Visa and Standard Chartered including Retail Banking MD for Africa.
Skills and experience
Extensive retail banking expertise and strong corporate governance knowledge.
Proven track record in driving successful strategy and improving diversity.
Significant non-executive experience in government departments, charities and the private sector.
Other roles
Chair of Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) Bank and Chair of Nominations and Remuneration Committee. Non-Executive Director and Chair of Audit and Risk Committee for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Trustee of StepChange Debt Charity and The Camden School for Girls.
Committee membership
Chair of Board Environmental and Social Purpose Committee and member of Board Remuneration Committee.
Executive Directors
Susan Allen BA Hons (Econ), ACIB, ACT, OBE
Chief Executive
Joined the Board in 2023
Background and career
Susan has held senior executive roles at some of the UK’s largest retail banks, including Barclays, Santander UK and Royal Bank of Scotland. She has led major transformation programmes and driven customer-focused change throughout her career.
Before joining YBS, Susan was Head of Customer Transformation at Barclays, leading and supporting frontline teams to deliver outstanding service. At Santander UK, she was Chief Transformation Officer before becoming Chief Executive Officer for Retail and Business Banking, supporting 15 million customers with a nationwide network of branches and contact centres. Susan is Deputy Chair of the Building Societies Association.
Skills and experience
Over 30 years’ experience in financial services across diverse businesses.
Proven track record in transformation and customer experience.
Champion of diversity and inclusion throughout her career.
Responsible for leading the Society and delivering the strategy approved by the Board, driving performance and culture, and ensuring the Society fulfils its Purpose.
Other roles
Director of TheCityUK and Trustee for the Alzheimer’s Society.
Tom Ranger BAHons
Chief Financial Officer
Joined the Board in 2024
Background and career
Tom joined YBS from Santander UK plc, where he spent 16 years. For the last seven years, he was UK Group Treasurer. He was also a Non-Executive Board Director of Santander Financial Services plc and Senior Officer of Santander International’s Jersey Branch.
Tom began his career at Northern Rock in 1999. He moved to Alliance & Leicester in 2007, just before its acquisition by Banco Santander SA plc in 2008.
Skills and experience
Over 25 years’ experience in financial services.
Significant expertise in UK retail banking finance and treasury.
Specialist knowledge in markets, funding, capital and liquidity management, balance sheet planning, interest rate risk, pensions, stress testing and investor relations.
Responsible for ensuring the Society stays financially resilient – protecting the long-term financial stability of the Society and keeping members’ and customers’ money safe.
Other roles
Chair of Accord Mortgages Limited and Chair of Norwich & Peterborough (LBS) Ltd.
The work of our committees
Discover the four committees who monitor how we manage various aspects of our Society and make recommendations to the Board on how we can improve.
Corporate Governance
Read how corporate governance helps shape the way the Board protects the interests of the Society and its members.