Co-op Group chair to quit now amid Flowers scandal
LEN Wardle, chairman of the beleaguered Co-operative Group is to bring forward his retirement plans amid the damaging and highly-embarrassing revelations surrounding the former Co-op Bank chairman Rev Paul Flowers.
Mr Wardle said: “The recent revelations about the behaviour of Paul Flowers, the former Chair of The Co-operative Bank, have raised a number of serious questions for both the Bank and the Group.
“I led the board that appointed Paul Flowers to lead the Bank board and under those circumstances I feel that it is right that I step down now, ahead of my planned retirement in May next year.
“I have already made it clear that I believe the time is right for real change in our operations and our governance and the Board recently started a detailed review of our democracy.
“I hope that the Group now takes the chance to put in place a new democratic structure so we can modernise in the interests of all our members.”
He will be replaced by Ursula Lidbetter, currently group deputy chair and chief executive of the Lincolnshire Co-operative Society
It is intended that she will chair the Group through the current governance review, which will include consideration of how the Board is constituted and chaired.
Miss Lidbetter said: “These are very difficult times for The Co-operative Group and the wider movement, but I believe that we can and will come through this period stronger than ever by facing up to our challenges.”
