As Chairman of Leeds Metropolitan University, he championed the principle of access to education by helping to mastermind its low cost tuition fees policy.
He is recognised as having been one of the most widely-experienced commercial litigators and was instrumental in establishing Eversheds as one of Europe’s biggest and most successful law firms.
As if that was not enough, he is also Chairman of The N G Bailey Organisation building services company, and Chairman of the Institute of Directors in Yorkshire.
He also uses his business expertise to support a number of voluntary organisations, including chairing the Eureka children’s interactive learning museum in Halifax.
In his role at the UK’s 18th biggest building society, he will provide additional business expertise as the organisation expands and develops.
Nimble – a nickname he earned from his squash expertise as a teenager, which stuck - graduated from Leeds University and attended the College of Law in Guildford. He became a solicitor in 1971 and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and a fellow of the Institute of Directors. He lives in North Yorkshire.
He is very excited about his new role.
‘I was delighted to be invited to become a non-executive director of Scarborough Building Society as it is, I believe, one of the most innovative mutual societies in the country, with a strong agenda of development and growth. It is a building society which knows where it is going, and I am excited to have this opportunity to be part of that story.
‘Financial services is a challenging but exciting sector to operate in, and I am looking forward to the opportunity to blend my expertise in the business, education and legal sectors with the aspirations of this established and successful organisation.’
Speaking about his career so far, he added: ‘I find the world of business fascinating and have been enormously lucky to have had the opportunity to be involved in a range of very interesting organisations – from an international law firm to a cutting edge construction company, and a regional university.
‘As someone who is involved in a range of business activities, I think it is also important to use my skills and experience to give something back to the community, wherever possible, and I get an added satisfaction from being able to help in this way.’
Chairman William Worsely said: ‘I am tremendously excited about the potential for Nimble’s involvement with us. Ours is a society on the move which is already hugely successful and has great plans for continued development and growth through activities such as product innovation; new business partnerships and member engagement.’
Chief Executive John Carrier added: ‘While he has no specific experience of the Financial Services sector, I believe Nimble will bring a very useful alternative perspective to the Board, from his knowledge of a number of very different commercial environments – as well as a wide range of businesses across Yorkshire.’
He added: ‘In order to achieve our ambitious aims on behalf of our members, staff and indeed potential customers, it is important that we grow and develop our management capacity by involving skilled practitioners like Nimble, with his wealth of experience and expertise, to meet new challenges as they arise with gusto.’
