Goodfellow to step down as Skipton chief as successor is named

JOHN Goodfellow, the chief executive of Skipton Building Society, is to step down after 17 years in the role.

Mr Goodfellow, 62, will leave the post at the end of the year to be replaced by David Cutter, the North Yorkshire mutual’s group corporate development director.

The Skipton said that the plans for Scotsman Mr Goodfellow’s succession “have been in place for some time”.

It said that 46-year-old Mr Cutter will become deputy chief executive on Friday and work alongside Mr Goodfellow until he replaces him on January 1.

Mr Goodfellow will become a consultant to the society’s board of directors following his departure and will continue as the chairman of the Building Societies Association until May 2009.

Skipton is the UK’s sixth largest building society with 84 branches, 18 subsidiaries and assets of more than £13bn

A former international hockey player, Bradford-born Mr Cutter is a trained chartered accountant who joined the society as head of audit in 1993. 

He said: “As a Yorkshireman, born and bred, it’s a great honour to be taking the helm of one of the area’s most successful businesses.  The Society remains robust in these turbulent financial times and both our savers and borrowers can be sure they are in safe hands. 

“Having seen the advantages of mutuality first hand during my 15 years with Skipton, there is no benefit to be had in changing this model; my aim is ‘business as usual’

– to continue to act in the best long-term interests of our members.  Our strategy of carefully investing in market-leading subsidiaries will continue, as we build on the strong foundations John Goodfellow has been so instrumental in laying.”

Mr Cutter added: “It has been a privilege working with John as he led the Society from assets of £2.5bn, when he took over as chief executive in 1991, to today, when that figure stands at well over £13bn.  His vision has created a unique group of companies that make Skipton one of the UK’s most successful building societies.”

Skipton’s chairman John Rawlings said: “John has been an exceptional chief executive whose vision of modern mutuality has transformed Skipton in recent years and made it into the unique organisation it is today.  I am delighted that following a full selection process the board has unanimously voted to appoint David as John’s successor, thereby ensuring the continuity of the Skipton culture which is so vital to our success.”
          
Mr Goodfellow said, “I am extremely proud to have led the Society for the last 17 years. In that time it has grown to be a vibrant group business operating throughout the

UK and creating 4,000 jobs. And, whilst the current economic climate is challenging, the Society is ideally positioned not merely to weather the storm but to take advantage of emerging opportunities.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as chief executive and thank all of my colleagues for their support and friendship.”

Mr Cutter was appointed the Skipton board as operations director in 2000, becoming chairman of the Society’s operational board in 2002, responsible for the day-to-day functions of Skipton’s core business.

In 2006 he became group corporate development director, with responsibility for the group’s subsidiary businesses.  Prior to joining the Society he worked for 10 years at KPMG.

Mr Cutter lives in Bradley, near Skipton, with his wife, Carol, and his sons Kit, Oliver and James.  He is a former international hockey player, with 51 caps for Wales,

and still plays for his local club.  He also enjoys golf and playing the piano and is a governor of Malsis Preparatory School.

Mr Goodfellow has spent his entire career working in building societies, specialising in data processing and the use of technology to improve efficiency.

He joined the Skipton in 1984, after 20 years in the industry, to lead the IT development strategy.  He was appointed chief executive in 1991 and since then has driven the expansion of subsidiary companies.