Yorkshire appoints former C&G chief as merger confirmed

YORKSHIRE Building Society’s merger with Chelsea Building Society has been given the green light by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) and will take effect on April 1.

The merger will create the second biggest building society group in the UK.

Yorkshire Building Society today confirmed that it had taken up an option to appoint a Chelsea non-executive director to its board.

Roger Burden, 63, is a former chief executive and chairman of Cheltenham & Gloucester as well as a former chairman of the Council of Mortgage Lenders.

Mr Burden retired from Cheltenham & Gloucester in 2004 and joined Chelsea Building Society’s board on November 1 as a non-executive director, when merger discussions between the Yorkshire and Chelsea were well advanced.

Ed Anderson, chairman of Yorkshire Building Society, said “I’m delighted to welcome Roger as a non-executive director at the Yorkshire. He has extensive experience in the mortgage industry and will be an asset to our board. I very much look forward to working with him.”

Earlier this week, Yorkshire Building Society promoted an internal candidate to the role of finance director following the retirement of Andrew Gosling.

Robin Churchouse, 44, will step up to the finance director role of the Bradford-based society in June from his current position as general manager risk & planning.