Meet the Team
The Board of Directors
Click the images to find out more
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Martin Rice
ChairmanMartin Rice
ChairmanHow long you have been an ESBS Non-Executive
Director (NED) and your current position(s) held?I joined the Society as a NED in August 2013 and became Chairman in August 2014.
Career background?
I have always worked in Financial Services since leaving school. For 37 years I worked for the former Alliance & Leicester, now part of Santander UK. Latterly I worked for Barclays Bank within their Barclaycard division and I returned to Santander briefly in 2012 before joining the Board in August 2013. From October 2013 to April 2016 I also worked as an independent compliance consultant. My career has included a period in mortgage underwriting, qualifying as a Solicitor in 1994 whilst working for Alliance & Leicester and latterly becoming a compliance officer dealing with the prevention of financial crime within banking.
Why did you join the Earl Shilton Building Society Board?
I have always recognised the tremendous importance of small building societies in ensuring the customer comes first. It was a dream come true to become a Non-Executive Director and latterly the Chairman of the Society and to help support its continuing development.
What it is about working at the Society which you enjoy the most?
Earl Shilton is a tremendous place to work. There is an incredible team spirit and a real commitment to customer service, as well as a recognition of the Society’s heritage and its importance to the town. I’m very proud to be associated with the Society and its staff.
Hobbies and Interests outside of work?
My family and children have always been a huge focus but in terms of interests, I would list reading (I usually manage to have three books on the go at once), a life-long passion for music (spanning 45 years of scouring independent record shops for obscure albums), gardening and all things associated with cars.
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Paul Beardsmore
Vice ChairmanPaul Beardsmore
Vice ChairmanHow long you have been an ESBS Non-Executive
Director (NED) and your current position(s) held?I have been a Non-Executive Director since August 2013. I am Chairman of the Remuneration Committee and also serve on the Nominations Committee, and I have recently been appointed as Senior Independent Director and Vice-Chairman.
Career background?
I have worked in the building society industry since 1971, spending most of my time with smaller societies. The last eight years of my full-time career were spent as an Executive Director of a regional society.
Why did you join the Earl Shilton Building Society Board?
I was keen to join the Earl Shilton because of its unique combination of financial prudence and customer focus.
What it is about working at the Society which you enjoy the most?
What I like about the Earl Shilton is that it has not lost sight of the reasons for which it was established.
Hobbies and Interests outside of work?
My chief interest away from building societies is music – I teach piano and direct a church choir. I am also a trustee of a charity.
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Paul Tilley
Chief ExecutivePaul Tilley
Chief ExecutiveHow long you have been in your current role?
Since December 2011
Career background?
I’ve worked in building societies my entire career in roles ranging from sales, compliance, risk management and governance to operations
Why did you join Earl Shilton Building Society?
I joined because of the opportunity I was given to lead and run a well-respected building society
What it is about working at the Society which you enjoy the most?
The wide variety of the role ranging from strategy and oversight to speaking to members
Hobbies and Interests outside of work?
I’m a Justice of the Peace (Magistrate) and a rugby union referee
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Neil Adams
Deputy Chief Executive and Finance DirectorNeil Adams
Deputy Chief Executive and Finance DirectorHow long have you been in your current role?
I’ve been Head of Finance since July 2001
Career background:
Formerly I was in the profession as a Chartered Accountant
Why did you join Earl Shilton Building Society?
Because of the chance to work for a small, local financial institution
What it is about working at the Society which you enjoy the most?
The variety of work and strategic input
Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of work?
Supporting my local church, reading, music and exploring the great outdoors
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Stephen Burnside
Non-Executive DirectorStephen Burnside
Non-Executive DirectorCareer background?
I have spent 23 years working in financial services and customer analytics businesses in the UK, Europe and North America.
The town/city where you live?
Nottingham.
Why did you join the Earl Shilton Building Society Board?
I believe that regional mutual societies are an important part of our heritage and local community and that they have an important role to play in the future of financial services. I hope that I can help preserve and develop the Earl Shilton to continue to serve its members and maintain its successful track record.
What it is about working at the Society that you enjoy the most?
Working with the team, ensuring that we have the right strategy to meet members’ needs and contribute to the community.
Hobbies and Interests outside of work and any other appointments?
Golf, watching football (Sunderland) and keeping hens! I also support a charitable art house cinema.
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Ian Dale
Non-Executive DirectorIan Dale
Non-Executive DirectorHow long you have been an ESBS Non-Executive
Director (NED) and your current position(s) held?I have been an ESBS Non-Executive Director since May 2015. I am also a member of the Society’s Assets and Liabilities Committee.
Career background?
I am a Chartered Accountant and have spent the majority of my career working in the mutual building society sector, particularly within the balance sheet management field.
Why did you join the Earl Shilton Building Society Board?
Since retiring, I’ve wanted to try and use my skills, knowledge and experience to help people in their local communities. I’m passionate about the difference that mutual, community orientated building societies can make to local people and wanted to help the Earl Shilton to continue its long and successful track record in doing this.
What it is about working at the Society which you enjoy the most?
Working with all the directors and staff at the Earl Shilton, and getting involved as much as I can in meeting members and new customers and learning more about the local community whilst participating in Society events.
Hobbies and Interests outside of work?
As well as the Earl Shilton, I am also a Board Member of Aspire a Staffordshire based Housing Association, a Board Member of Groundwork West Midlands and a Trustee Director for a pension fund – so perhaps not entirely retired! I enjoy all sports especially football and cycling. I am a keen cyclist and participate in a 100 mile charity ride every year. My wife and I also enjoy travelling and have a “bucket list” of destinations which we are slowly working through.
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Gary Little
Non-Executive DirectorGary Little
Non-Executive DirectorHow long you have been an ESBS Non-Executive Director (NED)
and your current position(s) held?I’ve been a NED since August 2016. I’m also a member of the Audit, Risk Assessment and Compliance Committee and the Nominations Committee.
What is your career background?
I’m a chartered accountant. After completing my training with Touche Ross, I held a number of positions at Barclays Bank. Since then I have been Chief Financial Officer of a fund management business and for the last five years, I was Finance Director of Close Brothers’ Retail Banking arm. I’m currently working on a new business start-up.
Why did you join the Earl Shilton Building Society Board?
I’m pleased to be associated with a building society with a long and proud history of putting its customers’ interests first. I believe in the values and ethics of the society and feel that my skills and experience can contribute to its continuing success.
What it is about working at the Society which you enjoy the most?
I think there is a great sense of team spirit across the board and staff. The environment is a very open one. As a relatively new entrant I’m enjoying getting to know people.
Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of work?
With three teenage kids, family life is a focus for me. I’m a keen tennis player, a Southampton season ticket holder and general sports nut. I also love music, both the stuff I grew up with and the stranger sounds the kids introduce me to!
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Audrey McNair
Non-Executive DirectorAudrey McNair
Non-Executive DirectorHow long you have been an ESBS Non-Executive
Director (NED) and your current position(s) held?I have been at ESBS since January 2015 and am a Non-Executive member of the Board, and also a member of its Remuneration Committee and Audit, Risk and Compliance committee.
Career background?
I have been in financial services for 33 years and have held a number of roles in risk and operations in banking and asset management.
Why did you join the Earl Shilton Building Society Board?
I was keen to join a society whose values and ethics were those I believed in and where I felt comfortable with the culture. I have enjoyed using my sector experience and knowledge to help the Society grow and make its way through the tough regulatory regime.
What it is about working at the Society which you enjoy the most?
I have found the atmosphere open and very collegiate.
Hobbies and Interests outside of work?
I enjoy reading, music, the theatre, cinema, travelling, and running. I was recently appointed to the Board of the British Friendly Society based in Bedford, where I am Chair of the Risk Committee