People: Northern Bank GBB; Pugh; and more

Paul Rippon, who co-founded mobile-only bank Monzo, has joined the board of Northern bank GBB as non-executive chair, subject to regulatory approval.

GBB aims to support entrepreneurs across the North of England and fund the build of thousands of new homes.

Rippon co-founded mobile-only bank Monzo in 2015, hitting the headlines when it achieved the fastest ever crowdfunding round in just 96 seconds.

Today the bank has over 4m customers and was recently valued at £2bn. He stepped down from Monzo earlier this year.

Rippon’s experience spans 28 years and roles at eight banks and building societies in the UK and Ireland, including risk director, head of banking and deputy chief executive.

He has worked in PLC, mutual, nationalised, private, charity and venture capital-funded institutions. He has also served on several boards and sub-committees.

Rippon said: “Six months ago I stepped down from Monzo in order to dedicate more time to enjoying life.

“While I needed time to recharge, I said I intended to come back to banking. Around 200 opportunities came my way which was very flattering and I wanted something that would span business, banking and provide a way to help others from more humble beginnings like me.

“Following meetings with the team, I saw and liked the business model which allows GBB to build new homes and businesses and deliver safe and fair savings in a modern and sustainable way.

“The combination of leading-edge technology and relationship managers on the ground to provide support to customers is what property developers are in desperate need of.

“The plan is now to bring my entrepreneurial expertise, storytelling and coaching abilities to bear as we secure the banking licence and build out the bank.”

Steve Deutsch, GBB’s chief executive officer, said: “Paul’s expertise is second to none and comes at a critical time as we fundraise and move, upon receipt of our licence, to be fully operational.

“Paul joining us at this point in time is testament to the strength of the offer and wider management team and we’re thrilled to be working with him.”

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Property auction house Pugh has appointed chartered surveyor Eamonn Stones as an associate director, with responsibility for its regional operations across Yorkshire and the North East.

Pugh switched its monthly auction-room sales in Manchester and Leeds to its existing online platform after the onset of social distancing regulations in March. The business sold £90m worth of property and land in 2019.

Stones will be based in the firm’s Leeds and Sheffield office and will manage the hundreds of properties and plots of land that are auctioned at its regular Yorkshire and North East auctions.

He joins Pugh from SMC Chartered Surveyors in Sheffield, where he was a general practice surveyor, and was previously part of the commercial agency team at BNP Paribas Real Estate in Sheffield.

Since he began working in the property sector in 2006 Stones has disposed of residential, retail, office, industrial, storage and development land on both a leasehold and freehold basis, acting for clients including private individuals, National Grid, Uber, Network Rail and the NHS as well as universities and local authorities.

Pugh managing director, Paul Thompson, said: “Demand for our services in Yorkshire and the North East has been growing steadily with some great results both in the auction room and online.

“We’re really pleased to welcome Eamonn on board, with his years of experience and great network of local and national contacts, to head up our work in the region.”

Stones said: “Auctions have been the most reliable way to buy and sell properties during lockdown and, with Pugh fast becoming the go-to auctioneer in Yorkshire and the North East this is a really exciting time to be joining the business.

“I’ll be kicking off my new role by taking instructions for our July auction, which is already looking very busy indeed.”

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Listed Sheffield-based utility company Fulcrum has confirmed that Jonathan Turner and Jeremy Brade have been appointed as non-executive directors of the company with immediate effect.

Brade is a partner at Harwood and has been investing in UK smaller companies for 19 years.

He has deep experience of serving on the boards of private and listed companies and developing their strategies to enhance shareholder value for all shareholders.  His career has spanned both public and private sectors.

Turner is the owner and chief executive of The Bayford Group comprising a diverse number of entrepreneurial companies predominately in the energy and property sectors.

With over 30 years’ experience in downstream energy, he has led a variety of start-up businesses, management buy outs, mergers, acquisitions and disposals.

The global move away from fossil fuels has led him into the supply of electricity, gas and electric vehicle charge points in the UK and Netherlands. Turner is a substantial shareholder in Fulcrum.