Meet the Board

Rod Ashley

Chair

Rod joined the Society’s Board in April 2020 and is an experienced Bank Chief Executive and Board Member operating at senior management and leadership level since 2000. In his most recent role, he led a team setting up a new challenger bank and he was previously the Chief Executive at Airdrie Savings Bank. A graduate of the University of Glasgow, Rod is also a Fellow of the Chartered Banker Institute. He is well known in the industry, having sat on various regulator panels, and is currently on the advisory board of the Adam Smith Business School in Glasgow. Outside of work Rod’s interests include playing tennis and his lifelong interest in all things theatrical.

Zack Hocking

Chief Executive

Zack joined the Society in December 2023 having started his career as a Chartered Accountant and then spending 25 years in Financial Services, including 16 years at Co-operative Financial Services. Zack lives with his wife, three daughters and their family dog, Scout and is currently working towards gaining his mountain leader qualification.

Elspeth James

Chief Financial Officer

Elspeth was born in Carlisle and studied at Edinburgh University where she qualified with a mathematics and statistics degree. Elspeth then gained over 17 years’ accounting experience with KPMG and Johnston Carmichael where she worked with retail banking clients and other building societies both in the UK and Australia. Elspeth became the Finance Director of Penrith Building Society at the start of 2013. She and her partner live in Penrith with their daughter and Airedale terrier. In her spare time Elspeth enjoys running and pilates

David Billinge

Non-Executive Director and
Chair of Audit, Risk & Compliance Committee

David joined the Board in February 2024 with over 40 years’ experience in financial services. David is a CMIIA and has had a long and varied career, first serving 23 years in retail and business banking, change, risk management and internal audit with Barclays Bank, followed by 17 years with PwC where he led the internal audit service for building societies, banks, challengers and start ups in the regions. David is married with two grown up children and lives in Greater Manchester with his wife and two dogs, an Airedale Terrier and a Boxer, which keep him busy. David is a keen rugby and football fan and in his spare time enjoys walking in the Lakes and North Wales, reading, cinema and travel.

Nikki Marsh

Non-Executive Director and Chair of Remuneration Committee

Nikki joined the Board in 2023 after a successful leadership career in Financial Services and the Public Sector. Her expertise centres around Marketing, Digital Transformation and driving Customer Centric Culture in organisations. She continues to provide Executive Coaching alongside her Non-Executive Director commitments. Nikki is a passionate supporter of the building society movement and the mutual sector more broadly, having spent 10 years previously at Leeds Building Society. She loves hiking, especially in far flung places and keeping fit at the gym.

Nick Elliott

Non-Executive Director, Chair of Nominations Committee and Senior Independent Director

Nick joined the Society’s Board in September 2026 and brings over 30 years’ experience in financial services. He was previously a Partner and Chief People Officer in PwC’s financial services risk division, where he operated at senior leadership level and advised a wide range of financial services client across the full range of finance, risk and operational matters. A qualified chartered accountant, Nick graduated from the University of Manchester and has lived in the North West of England for more than 30 years. Nick is also a Board Trustee at Cystic Fibrosis Trust. Outside of work, Nick’s interests include playing racket sports, walking, and travelling with his wife and dog.