She succeeds Clive Wood of HSBC. Stuart Bernau, Commercial & Treasury Director of Nationwide Building Society, becomes Deputy Chair.
Ms Gunther has been chief executive of Standard Life Bank since January 2002. She was previously Managing Director of Direct Channels at Lloyds TSB, and began her banking career at NatWest as a graduate management trainee in 1976. She holds a degree in physics from Nottingham University and an MBA from Warwick University.
Commenting on her appointment, Anne Gunther said:
"My job in 2004 is to ensure that the mortgage market is not used as a political football, and that any proposed policy interventions are held up to scrutiny. With two major reviews of the housing and mortgage markets due to report to the Chancellor in the spring, the Housing Bill currently beginning its progress through Parliament, and statutory regulation due to take effect in October, 2004 is bound to be a highly eventful year.
"It is important that any ensuing intervention is sensitive to the real needs and desires of consumers, as well as to the industry. I therefore look forward to ensuring that the CML continues to engage actively and constructively in the emerging policy debates".
