Introducing
Our Board
Stuart Sinclair
Chairman
Appointed to the Board:
16 March 2020
Responsibilities:
Good corporate governance and best practice, leading an effective Board with a focus on strategic planning and implementation. services
Key skills:
Highly experienced non-executive director, committee chair and senior independent director (SID) with a background in consumer financial services.
Contributions:
A strong and effective leader of the Board, his extensive experience in retail banking, insurance and consumer finance ensures a good balance of strategic and operational oversight. His insightful and inclusive style encourages a culture of openness and debate on the Board with an appropriate level of challenge to management.
Current directorships:
Non-executive director and chair of remuneration committee for Lloyds Banking Group plc and non-executive director and chair of Willis Ltd.
Former roles:
Non-executive director roles at QBE Insurance (Europe) Ltd, Provident Financial Group plc, Swinton Group Ltd, PruHealth/ Vitality Ltd and Universal Insurance Inc. Also council member of the Royal Institute of International Affairs, president and COO at Aspen, president and CEO at GE Capital, China, Chief Executive of Tesco Personal Finance and director of UK Retail Banking at Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc.
Qualifications:
Masters’ degree in Economics and Master in Business Administration from University of California (UCLA).
Committees:
Nomination Committee, Remuneration Committee
Gerard Ryan
Chief Executive Officer
Appointed to the Board:
17 January 2012
Responsibilities:
Group strategy, operational management and leadership of the Executive Committee and senior management group. Ensuring good relations with employees, agents, customers, regulators and investors.
Key skills:
Inspirational leadership and effective, objective implementation of strategy; over 25 years’ multi-country experience in consumer financial services.
Contributions:
Acute market insight which provides a real advantage in driving the implementation of the strategy, and identifying and pursuing growth opportunities.
Former roles:
CEO for Citigroup’s consumer finance businesses in Western Europe, Middle East and Africa region, a director of Citi International plc, Egg plc and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney UK, CFO of Garanti Bank, Turkey and CEO of GE Money Bank, Prague.
Qualifications:
Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland.
Committees:
Disclosure Committee, Executive Committee, Nomination Committee
Deborah Davis
Independent non-executive director
Appointed to the Board:
18 October 2018
Responsibilities:
Chair of the Remuneration Committee.
Key skills:
Experience in fintech, consumer and technology businesses undergoing digital transformation, growth and geographic expansion. Digital technology expertise including omni-channel payments; over 25 years’ senior leadership experience in high-growth companies in international markets.
Contributions:
Valuable strategic and operational insights on growth and expansion of digital capabilities as well as customer experience, innovation and governance throughout the Company.
Current directorships:
Non-executive Chair of Diacetics PLC, non-executive director of The Institute of Directors in the UK, IDEX Biometrics in Norway, and a Trustee of Southern African Conservation Trust in South Africa.
Former roles:
Vice President of Global Partnerships and Global Risk Operations at PayPal, London, and Vice President of European Operations for eBay Marketplaces, Germany. Member of The Digital Banking Club Advisory Panel and non-executive director of IE Digital.
Qualifications:
Chartered Director (CDir), Diploma in Company Direction, MSc in Management, BAppSc in Electronics and a fellow of the Institute of Directors UK.
Committees:
Audit and Risk Committee, Nomination Committee, Remuneration Committee
Richard Holmes
Senior independent non-executive director
Appointed to the Board:
16 March 2020
Responsibilities:
Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee.
Key skills:
A former senior executive with over 40 years of broad international financial services experience, including 20 years as CEO and board member in private banking, wholesale banking, capital markets, trading operations, strategy and finance.
Contributions:
Risk management and how this interacts with strategy and operations with technical expertise valued in Board discussions.
Current directorships:
Non-executive director of Itau BBA International PLC, advisor to Revolut UK Ltd and a trustee of the Barry and Peggy High Charitable Foundation.
Former roles:
Non-executive director and member of the audit, risk and sustainability committees for Ulster Bank Ireland DAC Ltd; non-executive director for Business Growth Fund and British Bankers Association; Chair of Financial Services Council at CBI; CEO, Europe at Standard Chartered plc, Chair and CEO of American Express Bank at American Express Company and executive vice president of private bank at Bank of America Corporation.
Qualifications:
Degree and Master’s degree in Economics and a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.
Committees:
Audit and Risk Committee, Remuneration Committee, Nomination Committee
John Mangelaars
Independent non-executive director
Appointed to the Board:
22 July 2015
Responsibilities:
Chair of the Technology Committee.
Key skills:
Extensive experience in sales, e-commerce and marketing of online products such as MSN Messenger, Hotmail and Bing; over 20 years’ experience in an international technology business.
Contributions:
His experience supports the expansion of our digital lending business and the Company’s objective to increase its technology capabilities.
Current directorships:
CEO of Skyscanner Ltd.
Former roles:
CEO of online travel agency Travix International, various roles at Microsoft since 1990 including Vice President of Europe for Advertising and Online, and Vice President of Western Europe for Consumer and Online.
Qualifications:
Bachelor in Information and Communication Technology (BICT).
Committees:
Nomination Committee, Technology Committee
Bronwyn Syiek
Independent non-executive director
Appointed to the Board:
18 October 2018
Responsibilities:
Workforce and stakeholder engagement director.
Key skills:
15 years’ leadership experience in high-growth businesses in Silicon Valley, developing industry-leading technologies and consumer direct marketing. Executive and non-executive director experience gained in a non-profit scientific research organisation and education; 14 years’ experience as a consultant, focused on strategy and change in large international companies; extensive experience in M&A.
Contributions:
Enhancing Board discussions focused on technology, promoting the right balance for the Board between guidance and oversight. A creative problem solver and experience of attracting, developing and retaining people.
Current directorships:
Trustee of The SETI Institute, the examinations board ABRSM and a member of the Finance Committee at Oxford University Press.
Former roles:
Co-founder and President of NASDAQ-listed QuinStreet Inc., management committee member of De La Rue, and a consultant with McKinsey & Company, Inc.
Qualifications:
MA in Natural Sciences.
Committees:
Audit and Risk Committee, Workforce and stakeholder engagement director, Technology Committee