Board of Directors

David McCreadie FCBI

Chief Executive Officer

Appointed to the Board on 17 December 2019 and appointed as Chief Executive Officer on 5 January 2021.

Skills and experience:

David McCreadie has many years of banking experience and is a Fellow of the Chartered Banking Institute. He spent more than 20 years at The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) (now Natwest Group plc) holding roles in Branch Banking, Consumer Finance and several Group central functions. From 2004 to 2008 David was appointed the CEO of Kroger Personal Finance, a joint venture between RBS and Kroger Co, based in Cincinnati, USA. David joined Tesco Personal Finance in 2008 and was a member of the executive team that built Tesco Bank. David was an Executive Director and Managing Director of Tesco Bank, with responsibility for the banking and insurance businesses, from 2015 to 2019. His executive career and wealth of experience in banking, risk management, governance, consumer facing businesses and retailing provide David with the skills needed to manage the day-to-day activities of STB. His strong leadership and strategic expertise enable him to lead the Group in a sustainable way and create shareholder value.

Rachel Lawrence ACMA

Chief Financial Officer

Appointed as Chief Financial Officer and to the Board as an Executive Director on 23 September 2020.

Skills and experience:

Rachel has considerable experience in financial services gained from a career spanning more than 20 years. She has held senior finance roles in Metro Bank, where she was part of the original team that set up the bank, and Shawbrook where she was part of the successful Initial Public Offering (‘IPO’). Prior to joining STB, Rachel was CFO at AIB Group (UK) plc. She brings a wealth of banking experience focussed on high growth start up organisations and wider financial services experience gained in asset management, life, pensions and general insurance. She is a qualified chartered management accountant. Rachel’s considerable experience in finance and banking proves invaluable in her role as Chief Financial Officer. She has a deep understanding of the Group’s businesses and strategy and has a strong track record of creating shareholder value.

Ann Berresford ACA

Senior Independent Director

Appointed to the Board on 22 November 2016 and as Chairman of the Audit Committee on 23 September 2017. Member of the Risk and Nomination Committees. Ann was appointed as the Senior Independent Director following the close of the 2020 Annual General Meeting.

Skills and experience:

Ann Berresford is a Chartered Accountant with a background in the financial services and energy sectors. She has held positions at Bath Building Society, the Pensions Regulator, Hyperion Insurance Group, Triodos Renewables plc, the Pension Protection Fund, Bank of Ireland Group, Clyde Petroleum plc and Grant Thornton. Her career has given Ann experience in mortgages, pensions, operations, accounting, finance and risk. Her previous experience in the renewable sectors gives her a long-term outlook. The insights she has gained from her career mean that she is a strong Senior Independent Director and an excellent addition to the Board and committees she serves. Her financial background makes her an excellent Chairman of the Audit Committee.

Other appointments include:

Ann is the Senior Independent Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee of Albion Venture Capital Trust PLC.

Victoria Stewart

Independent Non-Executive Director

Appointed to the Board on 22 November 2016. Appointed Chairman of the Remuneration Committee on 21 July 2017. Member of the Audit and Nomination Committees.

Skills and experience:

Victoria Stewart has over 25 years’ experience in the financial services sector and was for many years a fund manager and investor in UK small companies. Victoria has knowledge of corporate structures and capital markets with particular experience in smaller companies listed on the Main Market and the Alternative Investment Market. She has held a number of positions at Royal London Group and Chiswell Associates (formerly Cantrade Investment Management Limited and now part of Sarasin & Partners). Her background has given Victoria vast experience in remuneration, governance, corporate strategy, investor relations, accounting, finance and risk. Her investor relations experience provides her with valuable insight from a shareholder perspective which the Board benefits from. Her experience in remuneration and governance make her a suitable choice for the Chairman of the Remuneration Committee and member of the Nomination Committee.

Other appointments include:

Victoria is a Non-Executive Director of Artemis Alpha Trust plc, Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust plc and JP Morgan Claverhouse Investment Trust plc. She is a member of the ACAEW Investment Committee and a former member of the ICAEW Corporate Governance Committee.

Paul Myers ACIB

Independent Non-Executive Director

Appointed to the Board on 28 November 2018 and as Chairman of the Risk Committee on 31 March 2020. Member of the Remuneration and Nomination Committees. Paul is the Non-Executive Director designated for workforce engagement and the Chairman of the Employee Council.

Skills and experience:

Paul Myers has many years of banking experience, gained initially in Barclays where he spent 24 years in a variety of retail banking roles. He was part of the small team that founded and built Aldermore Bank, where he served as Chief Operating Officer, Corporate Development Director and on the board as an executive director. Paul had a wide range of responsibilities at Aldermore, including IT, operations, transformation, marketing and digital as well as building and developing the retail and SME savings operations. Paul also has previous experience as CEO of a FinTech new banking venture, GKBK Limited. Paul is an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers. Paul’s career has given him a wide range of experiences and responsibilities, including IT, operations, transformation, marketing and digital as well as building and developing retail and SME savings operations. His insight into banking and particularly IT and operations provide a unique viewpoint that complements the Board and the Committee he serves well. His broad experience positions him well as Chairman of the Risk Committee.

Other appointments include:

Paul is currently a Non-Executive Director and Chairman of the Remuneration Committee at Ashman Bank Limited, a new bank start-up.

Finlay Williamson CA FCIBS

Independent Non-Executive Director

Appointed to the Board on 30 June 2021 and member of the Risk and Nomination Committees. Appointed to the Audit Committee and as Consumer Duty Champion on 27 October 2022.

Skills and experience:

Finlay Williamson is a qualified accountant with many years of banking experience, gained initially at The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc (now NatWest Group plc) and then at Virgin Money Holdings (UK) plc where he was Chief Financial Officer prior to the IPO. Finlay was previously a Non-Executive Director at Paragon Banking Group plc, where he was a member of the Audit Committee and chaired the Group and Bank Risk Committees. His career has given Finlay experience in retail, SME and auto finance banking as well as real estate domain experience. He also has experience of corporate acquisitions and subsequent integrations, with significant experience of change and transformation. Finlay has developed good relationships with the FCA and PRA during his career and is up to date with their priorities and processes. He also has prior appointments on plc Boards and Committees. The skills and experience he has gained from his career mean that he is a strong addition to the Board and Committees he serves.

Other appointments include:

Finlay is currently the Chairman of the Audit Committee and Senior Independent Director of Hampden & Co plc. 

Victoria Mitchell

Independent Non-Executive Director

Appointed to the Board on 1 November 2023. A member of the Nomination, Remuneration and Risk Committees.

Skills and experience:

Vicky has many years of banking experience, gained predominantly during a twenty-year career with Capital One (Europe) plc, during which she served as Chief Legal Counsel, Chief Risk Officer and Chief Operating Officer. She is a member of the Audit & Risk Committee, Nomination and Governance Committee and is Chair of the Financial Services Board at N Brown Group plc. Vicky has recently joined the Board of Vocalink Limited, where she chairs the Risk Committee and is a member of the Audit Committee.

Vicky was previously a Non-Executive Director and member of the Remuneration and Risk Committees of the West Bromwich Building Society. She also served as a Non-Executive Director at Lookers plc, which gave her considerable insight into the Motor Finance industry. She was a member of the Audit and Risk, Remuneration and Nomination Committees throughout her tenure at Lookers plc, was Chair of the Remuneration Committee from April 2021 to September 2022 and was Chair of Lookers Motor Group Limited. She is a graduate of Birmingham University.

Other appointments include:

Victoria is a Non-Executive Director of Vocalink Limited and N Brown Group plc.

Julie Hopes MBA ACIB

Independent Non-Executive Director

Appointed to the Board on 24 October 2024. Member of the Audit, Remuneration and Nomination Committees and Chair designate of the Remuneration Committee.

Skills and experience:

Julie Hopes has over 30 years’ experience in the financial services, having served in a number of senior roles at RSA plc, before becoming Managing Director of Insurance at Tesco Bank until 2013. She is a Non-Executive Director of Saga plc where she chairs the Remuneration and Risk Committees and is Deputy Chair, and Chair of the Remuneration Committee, of West Bromwich Building Society. Previously Julie was a Non-Executive Director of MS Amlin Underwriting Limited, where she chaired the Risk and Solvency Committee, Chair of Police Mutual and a Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Risk Committee of Co-Operative Insurance. Julie is an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers.

Julie’s background has given her experience in remuneration, governance, risk, finance, accounting and corporate strategy. She is an experienced Chair, with a strong customer focus and her skills and experience make her an ideal candidate to lead the Remuneration Committee.

Other appointments include:

Julie is a Non-Executive Director of Saga plc where she also chairs the Remuneration and Risk Committees. She is also Senior Independent Director and Deputy Chair of West Bromwich Building Society.