William Vereker, Chair
Santander UK Group Holdings plc and Santander UK plc
William Vereker was appointed Chair on 1 November 2020, previously Independent Non-Executive Director from 1 October 2020.
William is an experienced and well-respected Banker, previously having served as Global Head of Investment Banking for UBS (2013 – 2018), and prior to that holding a number of leadership roles at Nomura, Lehman Brothers and Morgan Stanley. From 2018 to 2019 he served as the Prime Minister’s Business Envoy. He was a Vice Chairman at JP Morgan until October 2020.
William is a Non-Executive Director to the London Stock Exchange Group Plc and is the Chair of the Remuneration Committee. He sits on the Advisory Board of Celonis GmbH and also chairs the Advisory Board of Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge.
William has been a member of the Board Nomination & Governance Committee since 1 October 2020 and its Chair since 1 November 2020.
Pedro Castro e Almeida, Non-Executive Director
Santander UK Group Holdings plc and Santander UK plc
Pedro was appointed Non-Executive Director on 1 September 2023.
Pedro joined Santander Portugal in 1993, holding senior roles in various areas. From 2007 to 2009, he was a member of the boards of Banco Santander Totta and Banco Santander de Negócios Portugal. Since 2009, Pedro has sat on Santander Portugal's Executive Committee and has been a member of its Board since 2010. In January 2019, he was appointed CEO of Banco Santander (Portugal) and Vice Chairman of its Board. He also assumed the role of Santander Regional Head of Europe from 1 September 2023.
Pedro holds a degree in Business Management from ISEG and has studied at business schools in Europe and the US, namely INSEAD, Harvard Business School and Kellogg School of Management.
Lisa Fretwell, Independent Non-Executive Director
Santander UK Group Holdings plc and Santander UK plc
Lisa Fretwell was appointed Independent Non-Executive Director on 1 January 2022.
Lisa has 25 years’ experience within financial services, technology, retail, and manufacturing industries in both business and consulting roles. She holds a first class honours in Chemical engineering from the University of Birmingham and an M.B.A from Cranfield Business School. She was awarded Business Leader of the Year by Women in Credit in 2020.
Lisa joined Santander from Experian, where she was Managing Director of Experian UK’s Data Business from 2019 - 2021. Prior to this, Lisa held various senior roles at Cisco for over 10 years, including Vice President of Software and Operations and Managing Director of Consulting Services and Internet Business Solutions. Lisa also held roles at Capgemini and Procter & Gamble before joining Cisco.
Lisa has been a Non-Executive Director at Restore plc since 20 April 2022 (and Chair of the Board Risk Committee, ESG Committee and Remuneration Committee and member of the Audit Committee and Nomination Committee). She is also a member of the Council at the University of Birmingham (and a member of the Audit Committee), a senior advisor to Tresmares Capital and a board advisor to Haysto Limited.
On her appointment Lisa became a member of the Board Responsible Banking Committee and the Board Audit Committee. On 1 March 2023, Lisa Fretwell was appointed as the designated NED chosen to represent the views of the workforce. On 1 October 2023, Lisa became a member of the Board Remuneration Committee.
Dave Gledhill, Independent Non-Executive Director
Santander UK Group Holdings plc and Santander UK plc
Dave Gledhill was appointed Independent Non-Executive Director on 1 September 2024.
Dave has significant experience in the financial services industry, in retail banking and digital transformation. He has held various senior leadership roles, including Group Chief Information Officer and Head of Technology and Operations at DBS Bank in Singapore, spending over a decade in that role.
He is currently a Non-Executive Director of Singapore Airlines and the Institute of Systems Science, National University of Singapore.
On his appointment Dave became a member of the Board Responsible Banking Committee, the Board Audit Committee and Board Remuneration Committee. On 1st April 2025, Dave became a member of the Board Risk Committee.
Michelle Hinchliffe, Independent Non-Executive Director
Santander UK Group Holdings plc and Santander UK plc
Michelle was appointed Independent Non-Executive Director on 1 June 2023.
Michelle has over 30 years’ experience in financial services audit both in the UK and internationally, with a particular focus on Banking and Capital Markets. Until 2022, she was Lead Partner at KPMG with responsibilities for a range of financial institution clients, reporting under both IFRS and US GAAP. Over the course of her career, she has been Lead Partner for Barclays, ANZ, Standard Chartered Bank, HSBC Investment Banking & Markets and Citigroup UK.
Michelle is also a Non-Executive Director on the boards of BHP Group Limited and Macquarie Group Limited and joined the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales Australasia Strategic Advisory group in May 2024.
On her appointment Michelle became a member of the Board Audit Committee and the Board Risk Committee. On 1 October 2023, Michelle was appointed as Chair of the Board Audit Committee and a member of the Board Nomination & Governance Committee. Michelle is also Santander UK’s Whistleblowers’ Champion.
Mark Lewis, Independent Non-Executive Director
Santander UK Group Holdings plc and Santander UK plc
Mark Lewis was appointed Independent Non-Executive Director of Santander UK plc on 16 December 2020 and Santander UK Group Holdings plc on 1 January 2024.
Mark brings a track record of digital transformation and growth across multiple consumer businesses and sectors. He was CEO of Moneysupermarket Group plc, operating regulated market places across financial services, travel and home services.
Prior to this, Mark sat on the John Lewis Management Board as Retail Director, responsible for sales and operations across 48 UK department stores and online channels serving 37 countries. He previously served as Managing Director of eBay UK and CEO of Collect+.
Mark is also Group Chairman of Iamproperty, Independent Non-Executive Director of Direct Line Insurance Group plc, as well as Non-Executive Director of Sambla Group and Non-Executive Director of Santander Consumer (UK) plc.
On his appointment Mark became a member of the Board Remuneration Committee, Board Risk Committee and Board Responsible Banking Committee. He was appointed Chair of the Santander UK plc Board Remuneration Committee on 16 December 2023 and Chair of the Santander UK Group Holdings Board Remuneration Committee on 1 January 2024. From 1 January 2024, he also became a member of the Board Nomination & Governance Committee.
Dirk Marzluf, Non-Executive Director
Santander UK Group Holdings plc and Santander UK plc
Dirk Marzluf was appointed Non-Executive Director of Santander UK plc on 7 May 2019 and Santander UK Group Holdings plc on 1 January 2024.
Dirk joined Banco Santander as Group Chief Operating and Technology Officer (COTO) in September 2018. He joined Banco Santander from AXA Group, where he served as Group Chief Information Officer (CIO) since 2013 leading the insurance group’s technology and information security transformation, its overall project portfolio and as co-sponsor of its digital strategy. His global technology leadership roles include previous work at Accenture, Daimler Chrysler and Winterthur Group.
As Banco Santander Group Head of Technology and Operations, Dirk Marzluf is responsible for leading the information technology and operations function and its strategic development.
The Rt Hon. the Baroness Morgan of Cotes, Senior Independent Non-Executive Director
Santander UK Group Holdings plc and Santander UK plc
Nicky Morgan was appointed Independent Non-Executive Director of Santander UK plc on 10 August 2021 and Santander UK Group Holdings plc on 1 January 2024. She was appointed Senior Independent Director on 20 February 2025.
Nicky is a former MP, Cabinet Minister and Chair of the House of Commons Treasury Committee and is now a member of the House of the Lords. She is a qualified solicitor by background and before being elected to Parliament spent 16 years with City law firms, focused on mergers and acquisitions and advisory work. Nicky possesses significant experience as a senior leader of high-profile large organisations, responsible for setting and overseeing implementation of strategy and communicating the organisation’s narrative and capabilities. She brings a wealth of experience from both a public and private perspective of the financial services sector, communications & media, and digital & technology.
Nicky is a Non-Executive Director of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, Chair of the Careers & Enterprise Company and Chair of the Council of the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) Limited.
On her appointment Nicky became Chair of the Board Responsible Banking Committee and a member of the Board Risk Committee. On 1 October 2023, Nicky was appointed as a member of the Board Nomination & Governance Committee. Nicky is also the Board’s appointed Consumer Duty Champion.
David Oldfield OBE, Independent Non-Executive Director
Santander UK Group Holdings plc and Santander UK plc
David Oldfield was appointed Independent Non-Executive Director on 1 December 2024.
David retired from Lloyds Banking Group ("LBG") in 2023 after nearly 40 years with them, having joined on the graduate training scheme. He brings a diverse set of retail banking, commercial banking and operational / technology leadership experiences. In the period 2014 to 2023, as a member of LBG's Group Executive Committee, David was CEO Retail Banking & Consumer Finance, CEO Commercial Banking and then most latterly Group Chief Operating Officer responsible for technology, data, strategic transformation, IT security and 3rd party procurement and supplier management.
David had a variety of leadership roles across all areas of Lloyds Banking Group including in Technology, Procurement, Strategy, programme and integration delivery, SME & Mid Markets Banking and Offshore banking. Over the years David chaired multiple legal entities for LBG both in the UK and internationally and, outside of the Group, was a Non Executive Director for Motability Operations Group Plc, Chair Cardnet Merchant Services Limited, and Chair of the Wellbeing leadership team for Business in The Community (BiTC). As LBG's Executive sponsor for disability for 14 years David was awarded a lifetime achievement award in 2023 from the Business Disability Forum, a leading business membership organisation in disability inclusion. He received an OBE in His Majesty's New Year Honours list in 2025 for services to workplace mental health and wellbeing, as well as services to disability.
On his appointment David became a member of the Board Risk Committee, Board Audit Committee, and Board Remuneration Committee. He became Chair of the Board Risk Committee and member of the Board Nomination & Governance Committee on 10 March 2025.
José María Roldán, Independent Non-Executive Director
Santander UK Group Holdings plc and Santander UK plc
José María Roldán was appointed Independent Non-Executive Director on 1 June 2023.
José María has extensive depth of knowledge and expertise in banking supervision, financial stability and public policy with over 25 years’ experience in the financial sector in Europe. He was Chairman and CEO of the Spanish Banking Association (2014 – 2022) and spent 13 years as Director-General at the Banking Regulation and Financial Stability department of the Bank of Spain, and member of its Executive Board. During his tenure in office at the Bank of Spain, he was part of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision. He also previously served as Board Member and Vice President of the European Banking Federation.
José María founded and Chaired the Committee of European Banking Supervisors (CEBS) (the forerunner of the European Banking Authority (EBA)); was the President of the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering and chaired the former Banking Advisory Committee of the EU.
On his appointment José María became a member of the Board Risk Committee and Board Responsible Banking Committee. He has been Chair of Cater Allen Limited since 16 December 2023. Jose Maria also became a member of the Board Remuneration Committee on 1 October 2024.
Pamela Walkden, Non-Executive Director
Santander UK Group Holdings plc and Santander UK plc
Pamela Walkden was appointed Non-Executive Director on 1 October 2021.
Pamela is currently Independent Director of Banco Santander, S.A. (since 2019) where she is the Risk supervision, regulation and compliance committee Chair. She is also a member of the Advisory Board at JD Haspel Limited.
Previously, Pamela has served in a number of senior management positions predominantly at Standard Chartered Bank, including as Group Head of Human Resources, Chief Risk Officer, Group Treasurer, Group Head of Asset and Liability Management and Regional Markets, Group Head of Internal Audit, Group Head of Corporate Affairs and Group Manager of Investor Relations. In addition, she served as an independent member of the UK Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) Regulatory Reform Panel and as member of the European Banking Authority Stakeholder Group.
Pamela was appointed as a member of the Board Nomination & Governance Committee on appointment as a Non-Executive Director.
For further information on other principal appointments of board members to companies part of the Banco Santander Group, please refer to our latest Annual Report.
Compliance with CRD IV
Santander UK plc complies with sections 4.3A.5R and 4.3A.7R of the FCA/PRA Senior Management Arrangements, Systems and Controls manual. The Board members of Santander UK plc are regularly reminded of their duty to notify the Board of any changes to their external directorships, which are kept under review by the Secretariat department.