Skipton Building Society announced that Stuart Haire, currently CEO of Wealth and Personal Banking at HSBC UK, will become Skipton’s new group chief executive at the end of the year.
Skipton, the UK’s fourth largest building society, said that in a career spanning over 20 years Haire has held executive leadership roles across a variety of functions within financial services.
“From working at RBS as director of financial strategy and analysis, and later their chief risk officer, through to being HSBC’s head of customer value management accountable for customer, commercial and risk targets across HSBC UK, First Direct and John Lewis Financial Services …” said Skipton.
“Stuart’s career incorporates a strong blend of strategy, marketing, risk and business leadership across different financial services channels and functions.”
Skipton’s interim group chief executive Ian Cornelius will remain in role until December 31.
Skipton’s 2021 profit before tax increased 129% to £271.8 million as it grew its membership to more than 1 million customers.
Its savings balances rose by more than £1 billion to £19.8 billion.
Skipton’s Connells business completed the acquisition of Countrywide plc during 2021, creating the UK’s largest estate agency.
Skipton Building Society chair Gwyn Burr said: “I’m delighted to welcome Stuart to Skipton. He’ll be joining us in our 170th year and his leadership and vision is exactly what we need for the next chapter of our long and proud history.
“And I’d like to thank Ian Cornelius for his first-rate stewardship of the business over the past few months and through to the end of the year.
“Stuart will be joining Skipton, a financially strong and well run mutual, and the parent organisation to a significant group which includes the UK’s largest estate agency Connells.
“As a business we have consistently been here, supporting our members through the good times and the less so. And as we face into the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead our priority will always remain our members and meeting their financial needs.
“It is this accountability that makes working for a mutual so special – and I’m pleased to welcome Stuart and his vast skills and experience to the team.”
Haire said: “I am hugely excited and humbled to take on this role at a very important time for the Society. Skipton contains a fabulous group of businesses and a proud mutual status.
“My job will be to continue the work to modernise the businesses and make it even more relevant for existing and new members as they consider their longer-term financial needs and aspirations.
“I’m very much looking forward to joining the Society, meeting the teams, and leading the group through this exciting new phase.”