Leek United appoints new Non-Executive Directors

John’s building society career began as a junior clerk at the Provincial in his native Bradford, where he progressed to the role of Branch Inspector prior to Provincial’s merger with the Burnley to become National & Provincial in 1982.

He moved on to a succession of posts with the Yorkshire, the Nottingham and, finally, the Cumberland, where he was Deputy Chief Executive until retirement in 2014.

Of his appointment at Leek United, he said:

“It’s really a seamless continuation of a 36 year career for me – it’s a friendly, familiar place where I felt instantly at home.”

Born and raised in London, Kerry Spooner graduated from the University of Hull, qualified as a solicitor, and spent more than 20 years with London-based law firm, Allen & Overy, specialising in corporate finance.

From 1988, Kerry worked in New Zealand as a Senior Associate with one of the country’s leading practices, returning to Allen & Overy in 1991, where she was a Capital Markets Expert and Senior Corporate Partner, until retiring from the profession in 2004.

In 2006, she became a NED at Market Harborough Building Society, where she worked as Vice-Chairman and a Senior Independent Director until April this year, when she began looking for ‘a new challenge’.

Kerry said:

“I used to come to Leek regularly as a small child to visit relatives – so my position at Leek United is one of those bizarre coincidences you often encounter in life.

“The obvious new challenge for me was another building society – and Leek United is a very friendly, positive and professional place to find that challenge. I’m delighted to have been appointed to the Board, and am looking forward to working at the Society.”