Executive Committee Board of Directors

Steven Cooper, CBE - Group Chief Executive of Aldermore Group

Prior to joining Aldermore in 2021, Steven was CEO at C. Hoare & Co, the UK’s oldest privately-owned bank, where he developed and led an extensive programme of change. Before this, he spent 30 years at Barclays, starting as a branch cashier and working his way up to lead several of their major businesses, including Barclaycard Business Solutions, Personal Banking for UK & Europe, and Business Banking in the UK.

He has significant experience in both the European and the US markets, and also spent four years working and living across Africa and India.

Steven is Chairman of Experian UK and is a non-executive director of Cashflows, a private equity backed payments business.

He is a passionate advocate for social mobility; he chairs Business in the Community’s Employment and Skills Leadership Team, is a co-chair of the Equality of Opportunity Coalition with former Cabinet Minister Justine Greening and was formerly Joint Chair of the UK Government’s Social Mobility Commission until 2021.

Prior to joining Aldermore in 2021, Steven was CEO at C. Hoare & Co, the UK’s oldest privately-owned bank, where he developed and led an extensive programme of change. Before this, he spent 30 years at Barclays, starting as a branch cashier and working his way up to lead several of their major businesses, including Barclaycard Business Solutions, Personal Banking for UK & Europe, and Business Banking in the UK.

He has significant experience in both the European and the US markets, and also spent four years working and living across Africa and India.

Steven is Chairman of Experian UK and is a non-executive director of Cashflows, a private equity backed payments business.

He is a passionate advocate for social mobility; he chairs Business in the Community’s Employment and Skills Leadership Team, is a co-chair of the Equality of Opportunity Coalition with former Cabinet Minister Justine Greening and was formerly Joint Chair of the UK Government’s Social Mobility Commission until 2021.

Steven Cooper, CEO of Aldermore Group

Ralph Coates

Chief Financial Officer

Ralph has been the Aldermore Group CFO since May 2022. Previously he was the CFO of TSB Bank for five years and was pivotal in driving its transformation and growth strategy. Prior to joining TSB, he was Finance Director at the Bank of England, from 2013 to 2016, after nine years at Barclays, latterly as the Finance Director of Barclays UK Retail & Business Bank.

Ralph qualified as a chartered accountant with PwC in South Africa before joining the firm in London in the Transaction Services division.

Chief Financial Officer

Ralph has been the Aldermore Group CFO since May 2022. Previously he was the CFO of TSB Bank for five years and was pivotal in driving its transformation and growth strategy. Prior to joining TSB, he was Finance Director at the Bank of England, from 2013 to 2016, after nine years at Barclays, latterly as the Finance Director of Barclays UK Retail & Business Bank.

Ralph qualified as a chartered accountant with PwC in South Africa before joining the firm in London in the Transaction Services division.

Ralph Coates, Chief Financial Officer

Danielle Soto

Group Managing Director - Savings and Commercial Shared Services

Danielle joined from Barclays Bank where she spent 20 years building extensive knowledge and experience in Financial Services. In her most recent role as Managing Director for Mortgage and Premier Distribution, Danielle led the integration and transformation of the business, delivering a far superior customer and colleague proposition. 

Previous to this, she held a broad range of roles across the organisation, including responsibility for commercial delivery and strategic change. In addition, she played an active role driving the diversity and inclusion agenda and in particular, female talent and development.

Group Managing Director - Savings and Commercial Shared Services

Danielle joined from Barclays Bank where she spent 20 years building extensive knowledge and experience in Financial Services. In her most recent role as Managing Director for Mortgage and Premier Distribution, Danielle led the integration and transformation of the business, delivering a far superior customer and colleague proposition. 

Previous to this, she held a broad range of roles across the organisation, including responsibility for commercial delivery and strategic change. In addition, she played an active role driving the diversity and inclusion agenda and in particular, female talent and development.

Danielle Soto, Group Managing Director - Savings and Commercial Shared Services

Ross Dalzell

Managing Director - Property

Ross joined Aldermore in October 2022 from Barclays where he was Managing Director for Business Banking Relationships. Ross has over 20 years of financial services experience covering a wide of range products, channels and customer segments.

He has a strong background in all elements of product management and distribution and experience in delivering large-scale digital transformation and growth.

Managing Director - Property

Ross joined Aldermore in October 2022 from Barclays where he was Managing Director for Business Banking Relationships. Ross has over 20 years of financial services experience covering a wide of range products, channels and customer segments.

He has a strong background in all elements of product management and distribution and experience in delivering large-scale digital transformation and growth.

Ross Dalzell, Managing Director - Property

Tim Boag

Group Managing Director - Business Finance

Tim has over 30 years banking experience including roles within Corporate & Commercial Banking, Finance and Risk within RBS and NatWest. He has led coverage and specialist financing businesses, supporting a wide range of customers across all industry sectors.

Tim is a Non-Executive Director of Moat Homes Ltd and Chair of the Finance Committee. He was a Director of the Business Growth Fund (BGF) for 7 years from start up in 2011 and previously held positions as a member of the CBI London Council and on the Chartered Banker Professional Standards Board.

Group Managing Director - Business Finance

Tim has over 30 years banking experience including roles within Corporate & Commercial Banking, Finance and Risk within RBS and NatWest. He has led coverage and specialist financing businesses, supporting a wide range of customers across all industry sectors.

Tim is a Non-Executive Director of Moat Homes Ltd and Chair of the Finance Committee. He was a Director of the Business Growth Fund (BGF) for 7 years from start up in 2011 and previously held positions as a member of the CBI London Council and on the Chartered Banker Professional Standards Board.

Tim Boag, Group Managing Director - Business Finance

Richard Jones

Managing Director - MotoNovo Finance

Richard joined from Lloyds Banking Group in February 2023 where he was CEO of its motor finance and leasing business, which encompassed Black Horse and Lex Autolease brands and online car finance. Richard joined Lloyds Banking Group as part of their graduate finance programme and held a range of senior roles across the Group. 

From 2016 to 2021 Richard was also chairman of the Finance & Leasing Association and still sits on the FLA Board. He graduated in Business Studies from Sheffield Business School and is a chartered management accountant. He also completed the Harvard Business School Executive programme in 2021.

Managing Director - MotoNovo Finance

Richard joined from Lloyds Banking Group in February 2023 where he was CEO of its motor finance and leasing business, which encompassed Black Horse and Lex Autolease brands and online car finance. Richard joined Lloyds Banking Group as part of their graduate finance programme and held a range of senior roles across the Group. 

From 2016 to 2021 Richard was also chairman of the Finance & Leasing Association and still sits on the FLA Board. He graduated in Business Studies from Sheffield Business School and is a chartered management accountant. He also completed the Harvard Business School Executive programme in 2021.

Richard Jones, Managing Director MotoNovo Finance

Paula Walter

Chief Technology and Information Officer

Paula joined Aldermore in 2022 as Chief Technology and Information Officer with over 20 years' experience working in technology within Financial Services firms. Prior roles include Chief Operating Officer at Ruffer LLP and Chief Technology Officer at Newton Investment Management. 

She began her career in the technology division of Goldman Sachs, supporting the equities and investment management divisions. An alumna of the Universities of Cape Town and Oxford, she holds honours degrees in mathematics and linguistics and a DPhil in linguistics.

Chief Technology and Information Officer

Paula joined Aldermore in 2022 as Chief Technology and Information Officer with over 20 years' experience working in technology within Financial Services firms. Prior roles include Chief Operating Officer at Ruffer LLP and Chief Technology Officer at Newton Investment Management. 

She began her career in the technology division of Goldman Sachs, supporting the equities and investment management divisions. An alumna of the Universities of Cape Town and Oxford, she holds honours degrees in mathematics and linguistics and a DPhil in linguistics.

Paula Walter, Chief Technology and Information Officer

Nick Ulycz

Chief People Officer

Nick assumed the role of Chief People Officer in January 2022. Prior to this, he served as the Chief Operating Officer at Domestic & General (D&G), overseeing Operations, HR, and Communications. Before his tenure at D&G, he spent eight years at HSBC, ultimately as the Head of HR for HSBC, UK.

Nick is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and holds a BA (Hons) degree in Personnel Management from the University of Greenwich.

Chief People Officer

Nick assumed the role of Chief People Officer in January 2022. Prior to this, he served as the Chief Operating Officer at Domestic & General (D&G), overseeing Operations, HR, and Communications. Before his tenure at D&G, he spent eight years at HSBC, ultimately as the Head of HR for HSBC, UK.

Nick is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and holds a BA (Hons) degree in Personnel Management from the University of Greenwich.

Ben Taylor

Chief Customer Experience Officer

Ben joined us from Virgin Money where he was the Group Operations Director. With over 20 years of experience in customer service, consumer operations, and leading major change programmes, he is highly skilled at building centres of excellence focusing on customer experience and transforming customer journeys.

Chief Customer Experience Officer

Ben joined us from Virgin Money where he was the Group Operations Director. With over 20 years of experience in customer service, consumer operations, and leading major change programmes, he is highly skilled at building centres of excellence focusing on customer experience and transforming customer journeys.

Ben Taylor, Chief Customer Experience Officer

Reg Dhanjal

General Counsel

Reg joined Aldermore in 2022 from WorldFirst, where he was Group General Counsel & Compliance Officer and the EMEA Legal, Compliance, AML and Privacy Head for Ant Group, WorldFirst's parent company.

Prior to WorldFirst he was a partner at the law firm Pinsent Masons. He has over 25 years' experience advising on corporate, commercial, compliance and regulatory matters.

General Counsel

Reg joined Aldermore in 2022 from WorldFirst, where he was Group General Counsel & Compliance Officer and the EMEA Legal, Compliance, AML and Privacy Head for Ant Group, WorldFirst's parent company.

Prior to WorldFirst he was a partner at the law firm Pinsent Masons. He has over 25 years' experience advising on corporate, commercial, compliance and regulatory matters.

Reg Dhanjal, General Counsel

Board of Directors

Pat Butler, Chair

Appointed: January 2018

Board Committee membership:

  • Corporate Governance and Nomination Committee (Chair)
  • Remuneration Committee (Member)

Relevant skills, strengths and experience:
Pat brings extensive financial services experience to the Board, gained through both his executive and non-executive careers. He has previously served as a Non-Executive Director of Bank of Ireland Group PLC and Bank of Ireland (UK) PLC and was a partner at The Resolution Group, which conducts investment and restructuring activities in financial services. Pat has also chaired the Investment Committee of British Business Bank Investments Ltd, which is the commercial arm of the British Business Bank. 

Prior to that, he spent a number of years at McKinsey & Company Inc. where he held senior roles, including leading the Europe, Middle East and Africa Retail Financial Services Practice. Pat is a qualified accountant and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland.

Principal external appointments:

  • Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit Committee of Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC
  • Chair of Ardonagh International
  • Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Risk Committee of Ardonagh Group Limited
  • Non-Executive Director of Res Media Ltd.

 

Appointed: January 2018

Board Committee membership:

  • Corporate Governance and Nomination Committee (Chair)
  • Remuneration Committee (Member)

Relevant skills, strengths and experience:
Pat brings extensive financial services experience to the Board, gained through both his executive and non-executive careers. He has previously served as a Non-Executive Director of Bank of Ireland Group PLC and Bank of Ireland (UK) PLC and was a partner at The Resolution Group, which conducts investment and restructuring activities in financial services. Pat has also chaired the Investment Committee of British Business Bank Investments Ltd, which is the commercial arm of the British Business Bank. 

Prior to that, he spent a number of years at McKinsey & Company Inc. where he held senior roles, including leading the Europe, Middle East and Africa Retail Financial Services Practice. Pat is a qualified accountant and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland.

Principal external appointments:

  • Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit Committee of Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC
  • Chair of Ardonagh International
  • Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Risk Committee of Ardonagh Group Limited
  • Non-Executive Director of Res Media Ltd.

 

Richard Banks CBE, Independent Non-Executive Director

Appointed: September 2020

Board Committee membership:

  • Audit Committee (Member)
  • Remuneration Committee (Member)
  • Risk Committee (Chair)

Relevant skills, strengths and experience:

Richard has 40 years of experience in banking and financial services. Latterly he was Chief Executive of UK Asset Resolution Ltd responsible for winding down the nationalised banks Bradford & Bingley and Northern Rock Asset Management between 2010 and 2016 for which he was awarded a CBE. 

Before that he was a director of Alliance & Leicester plc where he was the Managing Director of the Commercial Bank. Richard is a qualified chartered banker.

Principal external appointments:

  • Non-executive Chairman of Shop Direct Finance Company Ltd
  • Non-executive director of Computershare Loan Services group of companies

Appointed: September 2020

Board Committee membership:

  • Audit Committee (Member)
  • Remuneration Committee (Member)
  • Risk Committee (Chair)

Relevant skills, strengths and experience:

Richard has 40 years of experience in banking and financial services. Latterly he was Chief Executive of UK Asset Resolution Ltd responsible for winding down the nationalised banks Bradford & Bingley and Northern Rock Asset Management between 2010 and 2016 for which he was awarded a CBE. 

Before that he was a director of Alliance & Leicester plc where he was the Managing Director of the Commercial Bank. Richard is a qualified chartered banker.

Principal external appointments:

  • Non-executive Chairman of Shop Direct Finance Company Ltd
  • Non-executive director of Computershare Loan Services group of companies

Des Crowley, Senior Independent Director

Appointed: May 2020

Board Committee membership:

  • Audit Committee (Member)
  • Risk Committee (Member)
  • Corporate Governance and Nomination Committee (Member)
  • Aldermore Senior Independent Director

Relevant skills, strengths and experience:

Des has over 30 years’ financial services experience, having spent most of his career at Bank of Ireland Group where he led businesses in Ireland and the UK including retail and commercial banking, SME, wealth management, insurance, and technology. Des was a member of the Bank of Ireland Group Executive Committee from 2000 until retirement in October 2019 and served

as a Director on the Bank of Ireland Court from 2006 to 2011. His most recent leadership role was as CEO of Bank of Ireland UK PLC (2012 to 2019), the independent subsidiary of the Bank of Ireland Group, with a full service retail and commercial bank in Northern Ireland and significant partnerships with the UK Post Office, Automobile Association and UK wide Mortgage Intermediaries and Motor Dealerships.

Principal external appointments:

  • Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Remuneration Committee of Citi Europe PLC
  • Chairman of AXA Insurance DAC
  • Director Ardilea Wood Management Ltd, Ireland

Appointed: May 2020

Board Committee membership:

  • Audit Committee (Member)
  • Risk Committee (Member)
  • Corporate Governance and Nomination Committee (Member)
  • Aldermore Senior Independent Director

Relevant skills, strengths and experience:

Des has over 30 years’ financial services experience, having spent most of his career at Bank of Ireland Group where he led businesses in Ireland and the UK including retail and commercial banking, SME, wealth management, insurance, and technology. Des was a member of the Bank of Ireland Group Executive Committee from 2000 until retirement in October 2019 and served

as a Director on the Bank of Ireland Court from 2006 to 2011. His most recent leadership role was as CEO of Bank of Ireland UK PLC (2012 to 2019), the independent subsidiary of the Bank of Ireland Group, with a full service retail and commercial bank in Northern Ireland and significant partnerships with the UK Post Office, Automobile Association and UK wide Mortgage Intermediaries and Motor Dealerships.

Principal external appointments:

  • Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Remuneration Committee of Citi Europe PLC
  • Chairman of AXA Insurance DAC
  • Director Ardilea Wood Management Ltd, Ireland

Ruth Handcock, Independent Non-Executive Director

Appointed: October 2021

Board Committee membership:

  • Risk Committee (Member)

Relevant skills, strengths and experience:

Ruth is experienced in working in finance and investments. Prior to becoming CEO at Octopus Investments in 2018, Ruth was Chief Customer Officer and Chief of Staff at Tandem Bank. Her previous roles include as Global Finance Director at Bacardi, and Private Sector Adviser & Deputy Project Leader at the Tony Blair Africa Governance Initiative in Sierra Leone. 

Ruth graduated in 2001 from the University of Cambridge with an MA (first class) degree in Natural Sciences.

Principal external appointments:

  • CEO, Octopus Money

  • Director, Octopus Group

  • Founder and Chair of Trustees, Supporting West Africa Through Schooling

Appointed: October 2021

Board Committee membership:

  • Risk Committee (Member)

Relevant skills, strengths and experience:

Ruth is experienced in working in finance and investments. Prior to becoming CEO at Octopus Investments in 2018, Ruth was Chief Customer Officer and Chief of Staff at Tandem Bank. Her previous roles include as Global Finance Director at Bacardi, and Private Sector Adviser & Deputy Project Leader at the Tony Blair Africa Governance Initiative in Sierra Leone. 

Ruth graduated in 2001 from the University of Cambridge with an MA (first class) degree in Natural Sciences.

Principal external appointments:

  • CEO, Octopus Money

  • Director, Octopus Group

  • Founder and Chair of Trustees, Supporting West Africa Through Schooling

John Hitchins, Independent Non-Executive Director

Appointed: May 2014

Board Committee membership:

  • Audit Committee (Chair)
  • Risk Committee (Member)
  • Corporate Governance and Nomination Committee (Member)

Relevant skills, strengths and experience:
John has extensive financial and audit experience, having previously held the position of senior banking partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, specialising in bank auditing and advisory services for banking clients. 

From 2001 to 2010, John was PwC’s banking industry leader and, from 2010 until his retirement in 2014, led PwC’s global IFRS technical group. John has also carried out a wide variety of other advisory work for banks and has been engaged by the regulators to provide advice on corporate governance, high-level controls and other regulatory matters.

Principal external appointments:

  • Non-Executive Director and Audit Committee Chair at St James’s Place Plc.

Appointed: May 2014

Board Committee membership:

  • Audit Committee (Chair)
  • Risk Committee (Member)
  • Corporate Governance and Nomination Committee (Member)

Relevant skills, strengths and experience:
John has extensive financial and audit experience, having previously held the position of senior banking partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, specialising in bank auditing and advisory services for banking clients. 

From 2001 to 2010, John was PwC’s banking industry leader and, from 2010 until his retirement in 2014, led PwC’s global IFRS technical group. John has also carried out a wide variety of other advisory work for banks and has been engaged by the regulators to provide advice on corporate governance, high-level controls and other regulatory matters.

Principal external appointments:

  • Non-Executive Director and Audit Committee Chair at St James’s Place Plc.

Mary Vilakazi, Non-Executive Director

Appointed: April 2024

Relevant skills, strengths and experience:

Mary is the incoming CEO of FirstRand Group. She was appointed as executive director in 2018, as the Group COO. In this capacity, she was the group executive director responsible for FirstRand’s diversification strategies in insurance and investment management, as well as the portfolio of subsidiaries in broader Africa and central group functions. Prior to this role, Mary held the positions of Deputy CEO of MMI Holdings Limited and CFO of the Mineral Services Group, and she is a 2016 World Economic Forum Young Global leader. Mary started her career at PwC, where she was admitted as one of their youngest partners globally in 2005.

Principal external appointments:

  • Chief executive officer of FirstRand Limited and FirstRand Bank Limited
  • Non-executive director of FirstRand Investment Management Holdings Limited
  • Board member of the Banking Association of South Africa

Appointed: April 2024

Relevant skills, strengths and experience:

Mary is the incoming CEO of FirstRand Group. She was appointed as executive director in 2018, as the Group COO. In this capacity, she was the group executive director responsible for FirstRand’s diversification strategies in insurance and investment management, as well as the portfolio of subsidiaries in broader Africa and central group functions. Prior to this role, Mary held the positions of Deputy CEO of MMI Holdings Limited and CFO of the Mineral Services Group, and she is a 2016 World Economic Forum Young Global leader. Mary started her career at PwC, where she was admitted as one of their youngest partners globally in 2005.

Principal external appointments:

  • Chief executive officer of FirstRand Limited and FirstRand Bank Limited
  • Non-executive director of FirstRand Investment Management Holdings Limited
  • Board member of the Banking Association of South Africa

Markos Davias, Non-Executive Director

Appointed: April 2024

After obtaining a BCom Accounting and Finance (Hons) degree in 2002, Markos joined Deloitte as a Trainee Accountant, later assumed the role of Manager and after 2 years was promoted to senior manager.

In 2008, he joined RMB where he worked for twelve years; he became CFO of RMB in 2015 until 2020. In April 2020, Markos joined the FNB Executive team as FNB CFO. 

On 1 April 2024, Markos joined FirstRand as Group CFO. 

Appointed: April 2024

After obtaining a BCom Accounting and Finance (Hons) degree in 2002, Markos joined Deloitte as a Trainee Accountant, later assumed the role of Manager and after 2 years was promoted to senior manager.

In 2008, he joined RMB where he worked for twelve years; he became CFO of RMB in 2015 until 2020. In April 2020, Markos joined the FNB Executive team as FNB CFO. 

On 1 April 2024, Markos joined FirstRand as Group CFO. 

Romy Murray, Independent Non-Executive Director

Appointed: August 2021

Board Committee membership:

  • Remuneration Committee (Chair)
  • Audit Committee (Member)
  • Corporate Governance and Nomination Committee (Member)
  • Risk Committee (Member)

Relevant skills, strengths and experience
Romy Murray has over 30 years of experience in the financial services and oil industries. Romy spent much of her executive career at Standard Chartered, including in senior positions in the Bank’s risk and legal functions.

 

She started her career in the oil industry with Shell. Romy is also an experienced executive coach and an ambassador for Women on Boards. 

Principal external appointments:

  • Chair of the Remuneration Committee and member of the Board Risk and Audit Committees of Nomura Europe Holdings plc / Nomura International PLC/ Nomura Bank International plc
  • Non-executive director and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee at Banque Nomura France

Appointed: August 2021

Board Committee membership:

  • Remuneration Committee (Chair)
  • Audit Committee (Member)
  • Corporate Governance and Nomination Committee (Member)
  • Risk Committee (Member)

Relevant skills, strengths and experience
Romy Murray has over 30 years of experience in the financial services and oil industries. Romy spent much of her executive career at Standard Chartered, including in senior positions in the Bank’s risk and legal functions.

 

She started her career in the oil industry with Shell. Romy is also an experienced executive coach and an ambassador for Women on Boards. 

Principal external appointments:

  • Chair of the Remuneration Committee and member of the Board Risk and Audit Committees of Nomura Europe Holdings plc / Nomura International PLC/ Nomura Bank International plc
  • Non-executive director and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee at Banque Nomura France