About Us
The building society difference
The Cambridge is an independent, mutual society which has been integral to the community since 1850. We provide funding for people buying their own homes and are a trusted home for people in a position to save.
The Cambridge is built on the core values of:
Integrity
We always act with openness and transparency and have our members’ interests at heart
Community
We work to enrich and support the lives of people today and to ensure future generations benefit from our being
Expertise
We make sure our teams are knowledgeable and we always invest in them. We know this is key to the experience we deliver
Relevance
We build products and services suited to our members and we strive to deliver an experience and environment that is best suited to their needs
There’s more detail on our workings, including financial reports and our Annual General Meeting on our governance page
GovernanceOur members
As a member of The Cambridge you’re part of a successful financial organisation. You have a say on what happens - a vote - and you’re helping to shape something for future generations. This is very important. We listen to you and with your support we grow stronger and bigger attracting more new members.
Here is what some of our members think about us, this information is from our 2017 customer satisfaction survey.
79%
of our members
are extremely or very satisfied with our service
95%
of our members
would describe us as being good or easy to deal with
97%
of our members
are likely to remain with The Cambridge for the next 12 months
57%
of our members
are likely to recommend us to a friend or family member
Committed to your community
We are deeply committed to the people, places and partnerships that we connect with and aim to help them achieve their goals. During the last year the teams at The Cambridge have worked hard to raise awareness, fundraise and donate man hours – read on for a round-up of the activity.
17
charities supported throughout the year
Over £20,000
raised for charity during 2017
964
hours volunteered from team members at The Cambridge
Read more about our community activities:
Community detailsWho manages your building society
Executive directors
Non-executive directors
Stephen Mitcham
Chief Executive and Director
Stephen has been the key driver of the Society’s strategy over the last few years, to modernise and to improve operations and performance. Appointed as Chief Executive in 2007, his ambition and focus for a sustainable business has brought about a positive vision for today’s Society. Stephen is committed to The Cambridge as a regional, mutual building society that is able to adapt to the changing needs of its members and wider community.
A lifelong supporter of Leeds United, Stephen enjoys walking in the Yorkshire Dales, reflecting on current form whilst looking forward to the cricket season.
Stephen is Deputy Chairman of the Building Societies Association.
Andy Lucas
Chief Operating Officer
Andy joined the Society in 2010 and was appointed to the Board as an Executive Director in 2011. He leads the Society’s customer-facing operations with responsibility for customer service, sales, product, marketing, IT systems and business change.
A member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, he has over 25 years’ experience in public, private and non-profit sector organisations in the UK and internationally. Andy is also a Director and Trustee of the region’s YMCA which supports individuals and families in the community.
A wanderlust - Andy enjoys travel with his wife, but is equally happy at home with his student sons, watching just about any sport on TV.
Andy attends the Board Risk Committee and chairs the Operational and Conduct Risk and the Product Development Committees.
Victoria Stubbs
Chief Risk Officer
Victoria joined the Executive Team in 2013 and was appointed to the Board as the Society’s Chief Risk Officer in 2015. Victoria’s wealth of experience includes risk and compliance; holding senior roles at the Financial Services Authority and an international insurance firm. However, her career started at ‘the happiest place in the world’ - Disneyland Paris!
Now responsible for all risk and compliance matters, Victoria has senior management responsibility for Risk, Compliance and Anti-Money Laundering.
An economics graduate of Cambridge University, Victoria now lives in Cambridgeshire with her family. As keen gardeners, they have started growing fruit and vegetables and claim ‘prize-winning’ onions and carrots to date.
A fan of Twitter, especially, #thearchers.
Peter Burrows
Finance Director
Peter joined the Society as Finance Director in March 2016. He is a chartered accountant with over twenty years’ experience in financial services, gained in a combination of executive management and consulting roles in the UK and overseas. Prior to joining The Cambridge, Peter spent five years on the board of a mutual friendly society, managing savings and insurance products on behalf of its members. He has also served as a director of the Association of Financial Mutuals and been a governor of a leading further and higher education college.
A mathematics graduate of Oxford University, these days Peter embraces ‘all things Cambridge’ as a keen road cyclist and runner alongside the River Cam. A favorite area is around Magdalene Bridge, which for him is where history and modernity meet.
Peter chairs the Asset & Liability Committee and also attends the Audit and Risk committees.
Jonathan Spence
Chairman
Jonathan was appointed Chairman of the Society in 2014, after serving on our board as a Non-executive Director from 2006. Jonathan also chairs the Nominations Committee and is a member of the Remuneration and Organisational Design Committee.
A family man; Jonathan has lived in Cambridge since joining us, having graduated at Oxford University.
Today, he is Senior Bursar for Queens' College Cambridge and has over 20 years' banking experience at senior level in City investment banks.
With a passion for rugby and as a seasoned referee, his leadership style touches on 'lessons from sport'.
His spare time involves a love of opera, gardening, reading and he even manages to fit in the occasional game of Real Tennis.
Stuart Cruickshank
Vice Chairman
Stuart is an established financial professional with public company and Whitehall experience. His career spans large, blue chip organisations such as Diageo, Whitbread and Kingfisher and he has also spent a number of years in SMEs.
Stuart’s sector exposure is wide and includes financial services, fast moving consumer goods, business to business, mass retailing, technology and entertainment. He has experience of investor relations on both sides of the Atlantic and in Continental Europe.
Stuart’s calm exterior belies his passion for progressive rock music; listening to tales of celestial conquest with gothic chord sequences and high pitched vocals, was until recently, his darkest secret! On a more staid note, he also enjoys watching rugby and football.
His non-executive roles include chair of the Audit Committee and Vice Chairman of The Cambridge Building Society, he is also the chair of the BMA Audit & Risk Committee and he chairs a FTSE 250 listed alternative finance company.
Francis Burkitt
Non Executive Director
Francis is a fourth-generation Cambridge resident, currently bringing-up the fifth generation.
He’s been a Non-Executive Director of The Cambridge since 2014. Other local activities include being a South Cambridgeshire District Councillor, Chairman of the Greater Cambridge Partnership, and Chairman of Ely Diocese’s Assets Committee, whose income helps fund clergy allowances.
Francis works in the City of London, where he is a Managing Director of Rothschild, advising listed companies and not-for-dividend organisations on their finances.
At the weekend, you might see him and his dog Twiglet jogging round Grantchester.
Pauline Holroyd
Non Executive Director
Pauline joined the Society in April 2016 as a Non-Executive Director and we benefit from her extensive experience in a range of organisations (including Kimberly Clark, Gatwick Airport, Aviva, and the Post Office.) Her passion for “Mutuals” and her emphasis on the potential of people brings the sort of challenging perspectives we want.
Pauline has become a go-to HR Director for help with significant organisational transformation – particularly where customer-centricity is a key component. She has formed a consultancy called Quo-change with some like-minded colleagues.
Pauline lives in Cambridge with her husband and two children. She enjoys day-trips with her family. Recently she has formed the ‘Harry foundation’ in memory of her father to encourage children taking up art and music in deprived areas of Cambridge.
Pauline is a member of the Audit and Remuneration & Organisational Design Committees
Stephen Jack
Non Executive Director
Stephen joined the Society as a Non-executive Director in April 2014 and is a member of the Audit and Risk Committees.
A Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Stephen brings more than 30 years’ experience in financial services, including senior level positions within global investment banking and broking businesses.
A keen walker and runner, Stephen regularly takes part in his local parkrun (parkrun.org.uk). Whilst at university, Stephen was captain of his University Challenge team, who sadly lost in round one! Nonetheless, Stephen went on to hold board positions in public and not-for-profit sectors that have benefitted from his vast knowledge of financial and risk management, internal controls and governance.
In 2014 Stephen was honored with an OBE, for his services to disabled people.
Andrew Jones
Non Executive Director
Andrew has worked in the building society sector for nearly 40 years; a career that supports his passionate belief in the mutual business model, best demonstrated through a local Building Society with strong ties to the local community.
His experience in senior roles brings a wealth of know-how to our Board as a Non-Executive Director. Most recently engaged as a Risk Director for a major regional society, Andrew is an accomplished Chair of The Cambridge’s Risk Committee.
Brought up in Europe, Andrew returns when he can, enjoying city breaks. A family man, with three dogs, three daughters and five grandsons; he sometimes finds time to read crime fiction.
A graduate in Mathematics from Bristol University, Andrew holds qualifications with the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators and the Chartered Institute of Bankers.
Andrew Morley
Non Executive Director
Andrew has been a ‘champion of the customer’ throughout his career – which started at the Ford Motor Company. Since then he has held several senior customer, sales and marketing roles at Sky Television, Cable & Wireless, Harrods, Motorola, (including the Google Motorola team) and as the CEO of the advertising business, Clear Channel. Recently, Andrew joined the world’s largest international children’s charity, World Vision, as their Global Chief Administration Officer.
Andrew was previously the chair of the IT Committee and is now the chair of the Remuneration Committee and a member of the Audit Committee.
Andrew is also an Ordained Minister in the Church of England. A keen cyclist, he spends his leisure time cycling up mountains, with his wife, Vanessa.