Our non-executive Group board have diverse backgrounds, meet six times per year and are also members of other H&H committees relative to their personal expertise and interest.
Michael has been a farmer all his life and is a renowned breeder of Limousin cattle and regularly judges the breed at livestock events. Michael was appointed to the Group Board in 2005 and was elected Chairman in 2018.
Richard joined what became Deloittes, qualified as a Chartered Accountant before moving into Corporate Finance and involved in transactions from small management buyouts to multi-national corporate acquisitions.
He moved to Cumbria, was made Corporate Finance Partner in 2006 running his own teams and offices; along the way advising a multitude of businesses - working with Boards of Directors and business owners to develop strategies through to making life changing decisions.
Richard commenced his CEO position in July 2018, enjoying the many challenges this presents.
Dawn is one of the original Harrison family and became a member of the Board in 1998. Her day job is lecturing within Lancashire Business School, University of Central Lancashire in Preston. Dawn is also the Chair of the H&H Employee’s Trust.
Will joined the H&H Group Board in October 2018 and is a highly respected farmer and businessman, farming 2,000 acres at Eyemouth, Scottish Borders. He is the third generation of Hamilton’s to use the St Boswell’s Auction Mart, which he first attended as a young child; Will aims to sell most of his cattle through the mart still to supply local butchers.
Will is also a member/chair of a number of UK and Scottish farming societies and committees.
John joined the H&H Group Board in May 2019 with over 40 years’ experience in the Building Society industry, joining Cumberland Building Society in 1997 before being appointed Deputy Chief Executive in 2002.
John was delighted when asked to become a Group Board Member as H&H is well known to him, is extremely well respected and a successful business.
John is a former Governor of Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in Penrith and is a volunteer driver for the Fellrunner Community Bus service.
Lynne grew up on a mixed livestock farm and is married to a dairy farmer and is currently working as a business growth consultant for food and drink businesses.
Starting out as a bank cashier, Lynne became a bank manager at just 22, to become one of the country’s youngest female bank managers. She went on to set up and run for almost two decades, her own multi award-winning business – Country Puddings Ltd – setting up her business from her farmhouse kitchen.
Margaret hails from West Cumbria and with a previous background in accountancy joined H&H in 1995 as part of the finance team.
To enable her to fulfil the personnel role on behalf of H&H, Margaret undertook a post-graduate diploma in Human Resource Management and is a fully qualified member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development. She is also the Group’s Company Secretary and a Trustee of the Employee's Trust.
Margaret has two grown up daughters and lives on a smallholding in Houghton with her husband and their black Labrador – Siddy.