• Swindon & Wiltshire Appointments
• Monday December 6 2021
• Author Name: Peter Davison

Nationwide Building Society appoints Debbie Crosbie as its new chief executive

Swindon-headquartered Nationwide Building Society has appointed Debbie Crosbie as its next chief executive and executive director. She will be the first woman to head the UK’s second-biggest mortgage lender.

The appointment follows the announcement in September that after nearly six years in the role, the current CEO, Joe Garner, intended to stand down from the board.

Debbie will take up her position in the first half of 2022. In the meantime, Joe will continue in his role as chief executive.

Debbie is currently chief executive of TSB, a non-executive director of SSE plc and a member of the Prudential Regulation Authority’s Practitioner Panel.

Kevin Parry, chairman-elect said: “The board is delighted that Debbie has agreed to join Nationwide as chief executive.

“Following a thorough and rigorous selection process, she emerged as the outstanding candidate to lead Nationwide.

“She brings significant banking experience combined with deep operational and technological knowledge – core skills that are needed to run a modern building society.

“She is a strong advocate of mutuality and supports Nationwide’s core purpose and the societal role it plays.

“I look forward to working with Debbie to continue to enhance the services we provide to our members.”

Debbie Crosbie, CEO-elect said: “Nationwide’s mutual status, combined with its trusted brand and market-leading customer service, make it a purposeful and unique force for good.

“I’m delighted to be asked to lead the Society in its next phase of growth and to work with its members and colleagues to make it the leading retail financial services provider in the UK.”

David Roberts, chairman of Nationwide, said: “I am pleased we have completed the selection process with the appointment of Debbie.

“By running an orderly and timely transition, we will ensure a smooth handover and continuity in the running of the Society.

“Debbie will join a society that is in excellent health, a testament to the outstanding contribution that Joe Garner and the team have made over the last six years.

“The growth in our membership coupled with our superior service and underpinned by our financial strength is a solid foundation to continue growing the society and ensuring we are ready to meet the future needs of our members.”