Breaking: Yorkshire Building Society names new CEO

CHRIS Pilling, the head of HSBC’s branch network, was today named as the new chief executive of Yorkshire Building Society.

Mr Pilling will replace Iain Cornish at the helm of the UK’s second largest building society on December 31.

Mr Cornish announced his intention to stand down earlier this year.

Mr Pilling is a former chief executive of First Direct, HSBC’s telephone and internet-based retail bank, and took up his position at HSBC earlier this year.

He began his career with Procter & Gamble as a brand manager before taking on roles at Kraft as Middle East and Africa group brand manager, and general manager for marketing in the UK and Ireland for British Airways.

In 2000, he joined Telewest as director of marketing before moving to Asda as marketing and customer service director and then to First Direct as chief executive in 2006.

Ed Anderson, chairman of Yorkshire Building Society, said: “Chris Pilling is an excellent appointment for Yorkshire Building Society. The Yorkshire is one of the UK’s strongest financial institutions and recent merger and acquisition activity has further strengthened its position.

“Chris’s outstanding track record and his wealth of skills and experience in delivering exceptional customer services in the retail financial services sector will prove invaluable in equipping him to lead the Society forward and build on the position we have established.
 
“Yorkshire Building Society’s culture is based on teamwork and Chris joins an extremely strong leadership team which has done an impressive job in leading the Society through an exceptionally demanding period. I would especially like to thank Iain for his tremendous contribution to the Society’s success and wish him well for the future.”
 
Mr Pilling said: “I am delighted to be joining Yorkshire Building Society at an exciting time in its history. The Society has a long held reputation for delivering outstanding value and excellent service to its members.

“It is clear to me that its success is based on its mutual status, combined with its financial strength and great commitment from its staff.

“The Yorkshire has a tremendous opportunity to build on its status as an independent building society to provide a real and trusted alternative to the banks and I am very much looking forward to being a part of that.”
 
Mr Cornish said: “I am delighted that Chris is joining the Society. Over the past eight years, it has been a privilege to serve as Chief Executive. During that time the Society has done an outstanding job for members, which is testament to the commitment and professionalism of my colleagues throughout the business.

“It has been a pleasure to have worked with an outstanding leadership team who have worked hard to ensure the Society is very strongly positioned for the future. I am sure that Chris, together with his colleagues, will lead the Society to future continued success.”