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Our Board of Directors and Committees

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Meet our Board of Directors

With a broad range of experience and knowledge between them, our Board is responsible for making key business decisions and representing you, the member. They all share a passion for the Society and a genuine belief that our members and staff should always come first.

You can find out more about each of our Directors below.

Mike Myers

Mark Myers

Chair
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Mike Myers

Mark Myers

Chair

Mark has worked in the Financial Services sector for 40 years and has a broad range of experience across banking and insurance, having worked for both public companies and Mutual organisations.

His recent experience was as CEO of British Friendly, a mutual Income Protection provider and interim CEO of MetFriendly an affinity based with-profits mutual, providing savings and investment products to the Police family. He is a Committee member of Huntingdon racecourse as a Governor and Chair of the Finance and Operations Committee for the King’s School Ely.

Jonathan Sandell

Jonathan Sandell

Chief Executive Officer
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Jonathan Sandell

Jonathan Sandell

Chief Executive Officer

Jonathan joined Shepherds Friendly as CEO in January 2026. He brought with him a wealth of experience gained from 20 years of leadership roles in the financial services industry. Most recently, he was the Customer and Proposition Director at Lloyds Banking Group, and in a previous role at Prudential UK and Europe, he managed the retail product portfolio and was responsible for redesigning its pensions and retirement proposition. He has also worked as an independent consultant. As Chief Executive, Jonathan provides strategic and operational leadership to ensure the Society’s continuing development and financial stability.

Portrait of Cameron Mills

Cameron Mills

Non-Executive Director
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Portrait of Cameron Mills

Cameron Mills

Non-Executive Director

Cameron qualified as a Fellow of the Faculty and Institute of Actuaries in 1988. He has worked in the insurance industry for over 35 years not only in the UK but also in Europe and Asia. Cameron’s last executive position was as a Director and Chief Actuary for a UK mutual insurance company. Prior to that he held roles in risk, compliance, marketing and sales.

Headshot image of Alison McKinna

Alison McKinna

Non-Executive Director
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Headshot image of Alison McKinna
Senior Independent Director: Read Alison’s message to members

Alison McKinna

Non-Executive Director

Alison has experience in both the public and private sector, across multiple industries including financial services, technology, healthcare and charities. She is an accomplished and client focused business leader with a successful track record of business transformation ensuring financial growth, digital innovation and improved customer experience.

Alison was a finalist for Board Director of the Year in the UK Women in IT Awards 2021, recognising her contribution to technology enabled organisations, and support for diversity and inclusion.

headshot of shepherds friendly non executive director neil tinegate

Neil Tinegate

Non-Executive Director
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headshot of shepherds friendly non executive director neil tinegate

Neil Tinegate

Non-Executive Director

Neil has over 25 years’ executive experience predominantly in retail and consumer goods sectors. He has held senior and board level roles in a range of corporate structures from global PLCs to AIM listed and private equity backed businesses. With customer-facing digital transformation as a specialism, he played lead roles in the teams that digitally transformed Argos in the UK and Heineken across Europe.

External appointments: NED of Mansfield Building Society, Trustee of Shaw Education Trust and external advisor to a range of corporate clients.

Portrait of Oliver Laird who joins Shepherds Friendly board as a Non-Executive Director

Oliver Laird

Non-Executive Director
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Portrait of Oliver Laird who joins Shepherds Friendly board as a Non-Executive Director

Oliver Laird

Non-Executive Director

Oliver has over 20 years of experience across retail, financial services and manufacturing sectors.

With his extensive knowledge and insights at board level as a CFO and Non-Executive Director, he is commercially focused and has a proven track record of delivering strategic change and operational improvements.

Oliver has served as Chief Financial Officer at Lookers PLC and First Direct Bank, Director of Central Finance at Lloyds Banking Group, and Finance Director of Co-Op Insurance Services.

He also holds several non-executive positions in both mutual and public organisations, including Beverley Building Society, Vanquis Bank and Paysafe.

Other committees we operate

Alongside our Board of Directors, Shepherds Friendly also operates several other committees.

Each committee shares the same purpose: to ensure that our members remain at the forefront by providing guidance, advice and recommendations to the Board.

It is a regulatory requirement that each committee provides a ‘Terms of Reference’ report. These documents outline what the committee covers and its responsibilities. You can take a look at these by clicking the relevant link.

Committee Terms of Reference

Board and Committees structure

Board

Board

The Board Chair of the Society is responsible for chairing and overseeing the performance of the Board in accordance with the Society’s rules, regulatory and legal requirements in order to maintain the highest standards of corporate governance. They provide ethical leadership and direction to the Board and ensure that the work of the Board is focused on meeting the Society’s mission, vision and strategic direction.

The Senior Independent Director’s role is to ensure the Society places the Members at the heart of everything it does. The Senior Independent Director also acts as a channel of communication for any Member who believes they have a problem which cannot be resolved through the usual channels. They are also responsible for assessing the Chair’s performance.

Terms of reference 

Audit and Compliance Committee

Audit and Compliance Committee

The Chair of the Audit and Compliance Committee is responsible for chairing and overseeing the performance of the Committee, which is responsible for the oversight of internal and external audit. The Committee is responsible for ensuring the independence of the audit functions and monitors the auditors’ performance. The Chair has oversight of the effectiveness of the whistleblowing policies and procedures, including those for the protection of staff raising concerns.

The Society’s Chief Actuary attends the Audit Committee to present recommendations on appropriate methodologies and assumptions to use in the valuation of the Society’s long-term business provision in its Annual Report and Accounts as well as the Solvency II regulatory valuation.

Terms of reference

Nominations and Governance Committee

Nominations and Governance Committee

The Chair of the Nomination and Governance Committee is responsible for chairing and overseeing the performance of the Committee, which is responsible for nominations matters. They have oversight responsibility for ensuring that all key function holders are fit, proper and competent on a continuous basis.

The Committee also has also taken on responsibility for overseeing the impact of climate change on the Society.

Terms of reference

Fair Members Benefits Committee

Fair Members Benefits Committee

The Chair of the FMBC is responsible for chairing and overseeing the performance of the Committee, which is responsible for supporting the Board in discharging its corporate governance obligations in relation to compliance with the Principles and Practices of Financial Management (PPFM).

The scope of the FMBC covers activities that are normally part of a With-Profits Committee. It also includes the consideration of the fair treatment of non-profit policyholders to ensure that the needs of all the Society’s policyholders are considered.

The FMBC monitors the performance of the Society’s investment managers to ensure with-profits policyholders are securing the returns in line with their reasonable expectations.

With-Profits Actuary The FMBC is supported by the With-Profits Actuary whose responsibility it is to advise the Society on key aspects of the discretion to be exercised affecting with-profits policyholders.

Terms of reference

 

Remuneration Committee

Remuneration Committee

The Chair of the Remuneration Committee is responsible for chairing and overseeing the performance of the Committee, which is responsible for the oversight of the design and implementation of the Society’s remuneration policy. They are responsible for ensuring that the Society’s remuneration policy and practices are aligned to business strategy and objectives, its risk appetite, values and culture, and relevant regulations.

Terms of reference

Board Risk Committee

Board Risk Committee

The Chair of the Board Risk Committee is responsible for chairing and overseeing the performance of the Committee, which is responsible for the oversight of the risk management system. They have oversight responsibility for ensuring that the Society has an appropriate ORSA Policy and that the requirements of the policy are implemented by the Board. Their responsibilities include having oversight that the Society is fully and effectively using its Risk management systems.

The Board Risk Committee also monitors the risks attaching to the Society’s investments which are currently managed by Royal London Asset Management (“RLAM”) and Legal and General (“L&G”).

Terms of reference

Board and Committees structure

Board

Board

The Board Chair of the Society is responsible for chairing and overseeing the performance of the Board in accordance with the Society’s rules, regulatory and legal requirements in order to maintain the highest standards of corporate governance. They provide ethical leadership and direction to the Board and ensure that the work of the Board is focused on meeting the Society’s mission, vision and strategic direction.

The Senior Independent Director’s role is to ensure the Society places the Members at the heart of everything it does. The Senior Independent Director also acts as a channel of communication for any Member who believes they have a problem which cannot be resolved through the usual channels. They are also responsible for assessing the Chair’s performance.

Terms of reference 

Audit and Compliance Committee

Audit and Compliance Committee

The Chair of the Audit and Compliance Committee is responsible for chairing and overseeing the performance of the Committee, which is responsible for the oversight of internal and external audit. The Committee is responsible for ensuring the independence of the audit functions and monitors the auditors’ performance. The Chair has oversight of the effectiveness of the whistleblowing policies and procedures, including those for the protection of staff raising concerns.

The Society’s Chief Actuary attends the Audit Committee to present recommendations on appropriate methodologies and assumptions to use in the valuation of the Society’s long-term business provision in its Annual Report and Accounts as well as the Solvency II regulatory valuation.

Terms of reference

Nominations and Governance Committee

Nominations and Governance Committee

The Chair of the Nomination and Governance Committee is responsible for chairing and overseeing the performance of the Committee, which is responsible for nominations matters. They have oversight responsibility for ensuring that all key function holders are fit, proper and competent on a continuous basis.

The Committee also has also taken on responsibility for overseeing the impact of climate change on the Society.

Terms of reference

Fair Members Benefits Committee

Fair Members Benefits Committee

The Chair of the FMBC is responsible for chairing and overseeing the performance of the Committee, which is responsible for supporting the Board in discharging its corporate governance obligations in relation to compliance with the Principles and Practices of Financial Management (PPFM).

The scope of the FMBC covers activities that are normally part of a With-Profits Committee. It also includes the consideration of the fair treatment of non-profit policyholders to ensure that the needs of all the Society’s policyholders are considered.

The FMBC monitors the performance of the Society’s investment managers to ensure with-profits policyholders are securing the returns in line with their reasonable expectations.

With-Profits Actuary The FMBC is supported by the With-Profits Actuary whose responsibility it is to advise the Society on key aspects of the discretion to be exercised affecting with-profits policyholders.

Terms of reference

 

Remuneration Committee

Remuneration Committee

The Chair of the Remuneration Committee is responsible for chairing and overseeing the performance of the Committee, which is responsible for the oversight of the design and implementation of the Society’s remuneration policy. They are responsible for ensuring that the Society’s remuneration policy and practices are aligned to business strategy and objectives, its risk appetite, values and culture, and relevant regulations.

Terms of reference

Board Risk Committee

Board Risk Committee

The Chair of the Board Risk Committee is responsible for chairing and overseeing the performance of the Committee, which is responsible for the oversight of the risk management system. They have oversight responsibility for ensuring that the Society has an appropriate ORSA Policy and that the requirements of the policy are implemented by the Board. Their responsibilities include having oversight that the Society is fully and effectively using its Risk management systems.

The Board Risk Committee also monitors the risks attaching to the Society’s investments which are currently managed by Royal London Asset Management (“RLAM”) and Legal and General (“L&G”).

Terms of reference

A message from our Senior Independent Director

As Senior Independent Director, one of my responsibilities is to help ensure that the Board continues to act in the best interests of our members. So, it is my pleasure to listen to feedback or concerns you may have about Shepherds Friendly and, in particular, concerns about the way the Society is governed or the way the Board carries out its responsibilities.

I am responsible for appraising our Board Chair’s performance by listening to the views of other Directors, our people and members and providing honest, constructive feedback. I am also the Whistleblowing Champion for the Society, empowering our staff to challenge anything they believe is wrong or that may go against our members’ best interests.

Having been on the Board since 2022, I am proud of the commitment and enthusiasm shown by our staff to provide the very best experience for all our members. In order for us to do this and to remain true to our promises, we always need to listen to the feedback and opinions of those at the heart of our business: you, our members.

If you would like to talk to us about your policy, a claim, our service, want to make a complaint, or simply have a question about Shepherds Friendly, please visit our Help & Support page to find out the best way to get in touch.

You may wish to contact me directly if you have a concern about the governance of the Society, the Board or its Chair, or if there is a significant matter which you believe cannot appropriately be raised through the Society’s usual channels. The Senior Independent Director does not normally investigate or determine individual member complaints, which are dealt with through our complaints process.

Shepherds Friendly is a mutual, which means that it is owned by and run for our members, so your views are important to me and the rest of the Board. If you would like to contact me about a matter appropriate for the Senior Independent Director, please email yourvoice@shepherdsfriendly.co.uk.

Yours sincerely,

Alison McKinna 

Senior Independent Director

 

Board Diversity Policy

The Society recognises and values the benefits of having a diverse Board. For more details click the link below.

View PDF »

 

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