Roland Gardner will be retiring as the Society's Chief Executive Officer in March 2022. He will be succeeded by Phillippa Cardno, our Operations and Sales Director.
Roland is the second longest serving chief executive in the building society sector and he retires after 15 years as the Society’s chief executive and after 35 years total service to the Society. His career began as the manager of the Newbury branch, and in 2001 he was promoted to the executive team in Head Office and then to Chief Executive five years later.
He has led the Society through significant change, starting with the challenges emanating from the banking crisis of 2008, and latterly from the Covid pandemic. During his tenure as Chief Executive, he has seen the Society’s assets grow from £564m to £1.4bn and the Society’s reserves from £29m to £88m over the same period.
Roland commented: “Newbury Building Society is an extremely well-capitalised and growing Society. Our financial results in recent years have outstripped those of our peers in the sector and our members have consistently enjoyed above average savings rates during the recent prolonged period of low rates caused by the credit crunch. Our borrowers have benefitted from our pragmatic approach to the adoption of increasingly tough regulation, in particular in our approach to helping first time buyers on to the ladder. The Society is in great shape for the next generation.
“I have had the honour and the pleasure to lead a hard-working talented team at the Society and I commend all of them for their individual contributions to the Society’s overall success, not least the dedication they show to our local communities. There has been nothing more rewarding for me than to read the consistently positive feedback we receive from our members via the independent Smart Money People website. We evidently provide a high-quality service whilst helping members improve their lives. That is the highest reward for what we do.
“I have so many happy memories of my time with the Society and look forward to seeing it continue to flourish for years to come.”
Peter Brickley, Chairman said: “It is a testament to the outstanding contribution that Roland Gardner has made during his tenure as chief executive that he leaves the Society a larger, stronger and more profitable Society than when he started as our CEO. I thank him on behalf of the Board and his executive colleagues for his outstanding contribution in making Newbury Building Society the strong and successful organisation it is today.
"His perspective and foresight have been invaluable as we have led the Society through the significant changes in the regulatory landscape, not to mention the challenges of the financial crisis and the pandemic.”
On behalf of everyone at Newbury, we would like to thank Roland for his incredible service over the last 35 years, and wish him all the best for the future.
