Board of Directors
Robert Hough - Chairman
Appointed Chairman at the 2006 AGM, Robert previously held the positions of Director in 2002 and Vice Chairman in 2005. He has been Deputy Chairman of Peel Holdings Ltd since 1987, and is also Chairman of Liverpool Airport plc. Robert has a degree in law from Bristol University and was partner in a Manchester firm of Solicitors for 15 years until 1989. He is also a Non-executive Director of Alfred McAlpine plc, Chairman of the urban regeneration company. New East Manchester Ltd, and a Governor of the University of Manchester. He was High Sheriff of Greater Manchester for the year 2004-2005.
Karen McCormick - Chief Executive
Karen was appointed as a non-executive Director in 2000 and as Chief Executive in 2005.
Karen’s early career was in accounting and audit, and she later joined the National & Provincial Building Society, where she became a member of the Executive team. For five years she has advised and supported organisations on the challenges related to Strategic Change and Development. Karen subsequently was HR Director for GUS Home Shopping, HR Director for Reality and People Performance Director at Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd.
Louise Dickinson - Finance Director
Louise has over 20 years experience in the financial and professional services industry, specialising in finance, operations and general management. She was previously the Managing Vice President at the UK Home Loans division of Capital One Bank (Europe plc) and prior to that she was the Finance Director at HFS Group Ltd. A qualified Chartered Accountant, Louise has also been Corporate Finance Partner at Grant Thornton and has experience in corporate transactional work at Ernst & Young.
Richard Bailey - Non Executive Director
First appointed a Director in 1997, Richard is the Executive Chairman of NM Rothschild and Sons Ltd in the regions and a partner in its worldwide investment banking business.
David Goldie - Non Executive Director
David became a Director in 2005 and is the Chief Operating Officer of the Telecoms division within Carphone Warehouse plc. He was previously Managing Director of Martin Dawes Telecommunications Ltd, one of the UK’s largest mobile phone service providers. When Martin Dawes Telecommunications was sold to the then BT Cellnet, a former subsidiary of this group merged with Opal Telecom in 1999, at which point David became Chief Executive Officer of Opal.
Robert Mee - Non Executive Director
Appointed as Director in 2004, Robert has had over 30 years’ experience with the Bank of Scotland Group and was Chief Executive of it’s retail business in 2000. He is currently non-executive Director of London Scottish Bank plc and Pinnacle Insurance plc.
Ken Knott – Non Executive Director
Ken was appointed to the Cheshire board in June 2006. He is Chief Executive of Ask Property Developments Ltd has worked in the commercial property field for more than 25 years.
He jointly established Ask Property Developments in 2000 and was a director of AMEC Developments.
Ken is currently a director for Abito Limited, Crosby:Ask Limited, Ever 1824 Limited and Central Park Management (2002) Limited.
In addition to his board positions, Ken has made a substantial contribution to the regeneration of the North West region and is Joint Chair of Ashton Regeneration, which is a five-year regeneration project for Ashton under Lyne in Tameside. He also chairs the Marketing Task Group to market the project and town.
Vanda Murray OBE, - Non-Executive Director
Appointed as Non-Executive Director in 2007, Vanda, who lives in Macclesfield, holds a number of Non-Executive Directorships in both public and private sectors including positions with Carillion plc, North West Development Agency and Easyfone. She was both Marketing Director and Managing Director of Ultraframe following four years as Chief Executive Officer of Blick plc. In 2002, she was appointed OBE for Service to Industry and to Export.
Ian Ross - Non-Executive Director
Appointed as a Non-Executive Director in 2007, Ian recently retired from PricewaterhouseCoopers after 35 years of service including 23 years as Partner. He held various responsibilities across several offices including Risk Management Partner for the North Region and Head of the Liverpool office as well as advised many of the North West’s leading companies.
In addition he established the firm’s first specialist due diligence department outside of London. He is a Trustee of Age Concern East Cheshire and lives in Alderley Edge.
Keith O'Brien - Company Secretary
Keith is responsible for Legal and Compliance, Internal Audit, Group Risk and the Treating Customers Fairly initiative.
Keith joined the Cheshire in May 2001. Prior to this he worked as a solicitor in private practice and for National Westminster Bank and Nottingham Building Society.
