He has held the post of deputy chair for two years
The Building Societies Association (BSA) has announced that Rob Pheasey (pictured), chief executive of the Marsden Building Society, has been elected as the new chair of the trade body.
Pheasey has held the post of deputy chair since May 2021 and succeeds Mark Bogard, chief executive of the Family Building Society. He has worked in financial services for over three decades, holding senior positions including operations director at Marsden, before being appointed chief executive in 2011.
He was also a former chair of the Northern Association of Building Societies and has been a member of the BSA Council since March 2018. Away from the sector, he serves as chair of the Pendle Education Trust and, until 2021, was a non-executive director at Nelson & Colne College Group, holding the position for 16 years.
The BSA is the trade body representing all 43 UK building societies and seven credit unions. Originally established in 1869, it serves as the voice of its member organisations. Together with these organisations, the BSA serves almost 26 million customers up and down the length of the UK.
BSA is delighted to announce Rob Pheasey, CEO of @MarsdenBS as its new Chair, a role he’ll hold for 2 years. Rob will open Day 2 of the Building Societies Conference this morning.
— BSA (@BSABuildingSocs) May 4, 2023
Find out more at https://t.co/YgrJLvLASr #bsa23
Commenting on his election, Pheasey said he was delighted to be taking on the role of BSA Chair.
“The year ahead will see member organisations delivering on their regulatory priorities, with milestones surrounding the FCA Consumer Duty and anticipated changes in response to the PRA Strong & Simple regime,” he stated in a post announcing his election. “In all matters impacting the mutual sector, the BSA continues to play a significant part of the stakeholder engagement.
“The boards of mutual organisations will define and deliver their own strategies, navigating their business through the individual challenges and opportunities we face, but also through common themes including digitalisation, diversity and inclusion, and sustainability.”
According to the BSA, building societies have total assets of nearly £500 billion and, together with their subsidiaries, hold residential mortgages of over £366 billion, 23% of the total outstanding in the UK. They employ approximately 51,500 full and part-time staff and operate through approximately 1,288 branches.
Pheasey said it would be interesting to see how organisations continued to deploy their operating models, having transitioned through the pandemic to hybrid and flexible working.
“There is an assured, yet understated confidence from mutual organisations, our heritage building consumer confidence, and an ambition that allows us to grow and remain relevant. After all, that’s what we’re good at, and I look forward to playing my part in the period ahead,” he added.
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