Building society appoints new CEO
Ecology Building Society has appointed Gareth Griffiths as chief executive, subject to regulatory approval.
The selection process was led by Louise Pryor, the Silsden headquartered society’s chair designate, and follows the announcement last year that the Paul Ellis would be stepping down after more than 40 years of involvement with Ecology, 27 of them as CEO.
Griffiths will take up his position in June, joining as the business continues to grow having reported a 14% increase in total assets to more than £250m, with a record 77% increase in new mortgage lending in 2021.
Griffiths said he was pleased to be joining a business which was “was founded to make better use of natural resources and reverse environmental degradation”. Noting that even forty years after its inception the building society’s mission “has never been more relevant”
He finished: “I will be agitating for change in a broken financial system, which has invested over £150bn into fossil fuels since the 2015 Paris Climate Accord. At the same time my focus will be dedicated to supporting Ecology’s excellent team to continue delivering award-wining service to our growing membership.”
Ecology has remained committed to its ecological mission since it was established in 1981 and has continued to be a leader in green mortgages – an area other Yorkshire building society’s such as Leeds Building Society have been keen to enter over recent years. It is currently experiencing an uplift in demand for its sustainable lending and savings products which are helping to tackle the climate crisis.
Griffiths is currently head of retail banking at Bristol-based Triodos Bank, which like Ecology is a member of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV) and has previously held leadership roles at RAC and HSBC after beginning his banking career with former mutual, Bradford and Bingley.
Pryor said: “The Board is delighted that Gareth has agreed to join Ecology as chief executive. Following a robust and rigorous selection process, he emerged as the outstanding candidate to lead the Society, demonstrating a deep commitment to ethical finance, ensuring money has a positive impact on people and planet, combined with significant banking experience.
“Gareth joins a Society that is in excellent health, a testament to the outstanding contribution that Paul and the team have made over many years. As we implement our 2030 Strategy, co-developed with members, we are showing how a purpose-led organisation can make a difference.”
